All of life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
There is no innovation without experimentation. We need to try new things to expand our awareness and the world around us. Without stretching our comfort levels and risking failure, no adaptions, evolutions, or breakthrough ah-ha moments exist. Learning happens when we acknowledge the lessons that come from these experiences.
Looking at the information and data discovered when something doesn’t work and then using this to change a behavior or tactic for the future is the key to enhancing our lives.
Creativity is always open to alternate ways of doing something. The very nature of inventions is the wonderment of what can be. Being open to experimentation can make the difference between the status quo and brilliance.
Humans are creatures of habit, for the most part, yet we can use this theory of experimentation in easy day-to-day activities that can prime us to make more significant leaps in other areas of life.
Begin by saying yes; why not give it a go? The worst thing that can happen is you discover it’s not for you, it doesn’t have the expected outcome, or you may be surprised to find some gem of information that will send you down a different path of discovery.
Examples of day-to-day activities that we can experiment with are;
Say yes to something you would never usually do. For example, eat at a restaurant alone, try wearing a color or style of clothing you would never wear, or eat food you have not tried before.
Limit your social media time to 15 minutes daily, change your sleep cycle and wake up earlier, or see if drinking more water and less caffeine changes your feelings.
Give these experiments a week or two to assess the feel-good benefits accurately. Then, start with these small steps and see if it enriches your mood.
Once you have wet your feet with fundamental around-the-home changes, we can delve deeper into other areas of life. Experimentation is all about learning, answering questions, and evaluating assumptions. The more information we have, and the more details we can gather, help us make educated decisions about our ideas, projects, or relationships.
There are many benefits of experimentation in life.
It gives us a better understanding of who we are and our hopes, dreams, and desires. We can reveal the passions we may not have realized or strengths we didn’t recognize we possessed. Exploring ideas outside of the box of normalcy can uncover pathways to success. The insights gained by looking at life from another point of view will expose us to diversity that we may never have had the opportunity to experience.
When we immerse ourselves in trying something new or a different way of doing something, we experience something out of our routine. On the other hand, if we do not experiment, we can only theorize that something will or not work, preventing new concepts from being integrated into one’s total being.
Our inner life and the voices in our heads dictate our expectations of the experience. So, before you reject something, step back from your initial reaction. Take a deep breath, and dive in. Give it a try: you may discover another way, thing, or situation you could learn from.
The more we are open to experimentation, the more we will attract opportunities because an opportunity always looks for the best place to present itself. So throw your arms open with joy and let the universe know you are ready, willing, and able to test the waters of new and innovative possibilities.
I think that, with anything creative, you should have the freedom to experiment, and that experimentation means not feeling totally responsible for how other people perceive it.
~Conor Oberst
