Learn Something New
If you want to be humbled, learn how to play golf.
I first started playing a few years ago, and while I can manage to hit the ball, I am definitely still learning and have recently committed to playing and practicing more.
It is a frustrating, infuriating, and slightly embarrassing experience. As well as rewarding, exciting, and quite fun.
This really applies to trying anything new.
Whether it is learning a language, starting a new fitness routine, or like me, deciding to start playing a frustrating sport, I encourage you to do that new thing you have always wanted to do.
Keep reading for the biggest lessons learning something new has taught me. And stay tuned for more insights from my golfing adventures!
Get Over Yourself. Newsflash – you will probably be terrible the first time you try anything new. And probably even the second and third time. I know we all expect to be that person who tries something and is magically good at it, but that is not reality. It can be humbling and embarrassing to be so bad, and our egos hate it. But that’s the price that comes with doing something new and it is usually worth it. So get over yourself, set your ego aside, and give yourself the permission to be bad.
Enlist Help. When you are starting something, you will get much further much quicker having an expert guide you. Get yourself the help that you need.
No One Cares. You have probably heard it often – everyone is so busy worrying about themselves that they are not noticing what you are doing. I have always slightly disagreed with this notion. I think we all are often noticing other people and what they are doing and maybe passing quick judgements, but we don’t really care. Sure as you are hacking away at the range or struggling to run a mile, someone else may notice, but they don’t give a sh*t.
Embrace a childish attitude. Children fail at new things all the time. Learning to walk, learning how to read, playing a sport for the first time, and on and on. Growing up is filled with new experiences and having to constantly learn new physical and mental skills. But somewhere along the way, we get nervous of trying to do new things. The next time you are bad at something, embrace your inner child, know it is part of the process, and just laugh it off.
Practice Patience. When you are trying to accomplish something new, it might take some time. The bigger your goal, the longer amount of time it takes. The reason most people fail is not because they couldn’t do it, it is because they gave up too soon. Practice some patience with yourself and give yourself the time that is needed to see progress. It will be worth it!
