Getting Out of the Rut
Our featured person this issue, David Bouchard, says, “When something touches me and sits in my craw for long enough, something just starts to percolate in the back of my mind, and I go away and get it started.”
This is how creative people work. And as David is quick to point out, it’s not magic. There are many ways to keep our minds engaged and active. The first step is curiosity. Take the time to consider what you could do differently or better. Look for ways to show up in the world more authentically or more colourfully. Consider creating something of value, necessity, or beauty.
If no one ever wondered or questioned, we’d never move forward. Yet something troubling often happens as we head into our 55+ years. Some of us start to believe we’re too old to begin something new. We think we don’t have the patience to sit with a fresh idea and see it through to completion.
As a result, our lives stagnate. Our social circles shrink. Our vision narrows. And we wonder why life doesn’t feel as vibrant as it once did.
With age comes wisdom, certainly. We learn that not every path is worth following. There are good reasons to avoid jumping on every bandwagon. However, failing to try something new once in a while can lead to a rut where life becomes repetitive. If we stay there long enough, the rut deepens. As someone once said, the difference between a rut and a grave is only a few feet.
This is why it’s so important to re-engineer your life from time to time. Refresh yourself with something new or invigorating.
This month, we launched a new column called Refresh. In it, Verena Foxx will share real-life examples of people reinventing their lives and using available tools to build something better.
I’ve often found that my reluctance to try something new stems from simply having never done it before. Anything unfamiliar can feel uncomfortable. Our minds say, “Nope, that’s too uncomfortable,” and we talk ourselves out of a good idea into doing nothing.
I had a recent example of this when I travelled to Porto, Portugal. Arriving in a city I’d never visited, I had to familiarize myself with my surroundings, adapt to a different culture, and figure out how to sustain myself in a completely new environment. With my phone in hand, I opened a navigation app and started walking. I explored my neighbourhood, ventured further out, and by the end of the day, I’d navigated the city, found essential resources, and returned to my lodging. I felt like a survivor. It felt amazing.
It’s the same with any task or project. When something is unfamiliar, you must take those first uncomfortable steps. As you proceed, you build on your accomplishments, and things become more familiar. One day, you look back and realise you’ve mastered it—or at least made significant progress toward your goal.
When COVID happened, I had to learn new software to reopen my business. At first, I felt panicked. How would I ever figure it out? But I took it one hour of training at a time, over several days and weeks. Eventually, I learned the mechanics, and now I use that software as if it’s second nature. But I still remember the terror of those initial steps.
It’s easy to look at your life and think there isn’t enough time left to do something new, so why bother? As a result, our interests wither, our imagination stagnates, and we become shadows of our former selves.
No one can do it for us. No one can motivate us unless we first decide to act.
So if you’ve been feeling unmotivated or like life is passing you by, choose something that interests you and map out small steps to pursue it. Maybe it’s reading an article, attending a lecture, or finding someone already engaged in it. Maybe it’s stepping outside and walking around the block. Whatever it is, take a few steps. I promise you’ll feel invigorated and more in control of your life and future.
Challenge yourself to become a better version of yourself. You’re worth it. |
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