Everyone likes being good at something. Whether it’s playing a sport, cooking, driving, marksmanship, painting… basically any activity - we like the feeling that comes with being competent (or better than competent) at the activities we take part in. Part of it is probably a bit of ego. Who doesn’t want to be good at something? Whether it is playing darts with friends or a household repair, there is some real satisfaction in being able to do something successfully.
So, we should probably all just focus on doing things we’re good at and call it a day, right? Actually, no. Not that we shouldn’t continue doing things we’re good at. Hopefully, your job is one of those things and we’re not saying you should stop doing those things. But, what about trying new things. Especially new things that take time to learn and you definitely won’t be good at them coming out of the gate.
People really don’t like trying new things where they may look foolish or, well, like beginners. This is one of those lessons we can take from little kids. They don’t have any issues feeling self-conscious about looking silly. They just pick up the new toy or whatever and start playing with it. That’s something that adults need to embrace as well and I’m going to give you a few reasons by.
4 Reasons to Embrace Being a Beginner
Growth comes from being outside your comfort zone
When we aren’t trying new things, we risk becoming stagnant. Whether it’s in your job, relationship, or anything else in your life. If you simply do what you have been doing, you aren’t likely to grow, as a person, employee, partner, parent, etc. None of us is perfect, just as we are. We can always grow, become better at various things, and learn new lessons. It makes us more interesting and often more successful. But, it requires embracing being uncomfortable. If you exercise, you know that you actually build muscle, get faster, or become better at a sport by pushing your limits. You add more weight, run further, set new goals, and basically keep pushing yourself outside what is comfortable. Want to grow as a person? It’s the same principle.
Learning keeps your brain active
One big concern for many of us as we grow older is the idea that we may lose our mental sharpness. At the farthest and scariest end of that spectrum is Alzheimer’s and dementia, but even simply becoming forgetful or just a bit less quick on the update is something that no one wants to experience as we age. One of the best ways to delay or avoid losing some of our mental clarity is to keep learning. When we acquire new skills, learn new activities, etc. we are building new neural pathways in our brains. Think of your brain like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes. But, if you ignore it and metaphorically sit on the couch eating chips and mindlessly watching TV, your brain naturally slows down, like your body. Stay active, keep your brain engaged and learn new things and you will help maintain that mental clarity longer.
We all need a bit of humility
There is a wonderful freedom in trying something new where you don’t even expect to be good immediately. I mean, it’s fun if you turn out to be OK at it, but with any complex task, you probably aren’t going to walk in the door and be an expert. You’ll make mistakes, underperform, and maybe even feel like you’re embarrassing yourself. Good! We all need the occasional reminder that we aren’t great at everything. Failure (if you want to call it that) is a fantastic teacher. I actually think the better you are at most things in your life, the more you need to become a beginner again (and again). We all can use a bit of a reality check now and then. This doesn’t mean you should spend all of your time doing things you’re bad at. But, constantly trying new things will not only help ground you a bit but may also give you more appreciation for the things you are good at.
You get to experience becoming good at something new
If you haven’t tried something new for a while, you may have forgotten one of the most enjoyable aspects of picking up a new hobby or activity. The process of becoming good at something. If you find something new you enjoy but aren’t particularly good at, the sense of accomplishment and pleasure that comes from slowly becoming good or even an expert at something is a feeling we all appreciate. Remember when you got your first hit in a baseball game or hit a bulls-eye with a bow and arrow, completed a difficult puzzle, won a game of chess against someone better than you, or figured out how to cook a new recipe after multiple failed attempts? It’s a great feeling and we only get to have it when we try new things and eventually succeed at them over time.
Embrace your inner beginner to become a better version of yourself!
