Surprisingly, stepping out of our comfort zone can boost our mood and help our health. “When we take a risk and it results in a good payoff; we get a spike in dopamine, a neurotransmitter that improves muscle movement, attention and concentration” says Michael Frank, Ph.D., assistant professor of cognitive, linguistic and psychological sciences at Brown University, Rhode Island.
“Taking risks creates new neurological connections in the brain,” says Dr. Alyson Schwabe, a psychotherapist in Boulder, Colorado. “Conquering a fear creates an opportunity for new parts of ourselves to emerge.”
Choose an activity that you have never done before, but are always thinking about. Some ideas to get the creative juices flowing: Take up a new sport. Some examples: Archery, Golf, Bowling, Billiard, Skateboarding, Skating, Roller-blading, Ice skating, surfing, Water rafting, Kayaking, Wakeboarding, Sailing, Scuba diving, Snorkeling, Swimming. Go skiing, Learn horseback riding, Be a mentor to someone, Do an extreme sport – Bungee jumping, Skydiving, Parachuting, Paragliding, Ice climbing, Climb a mountain, Write a book, Fly in a hot-air balloon across a country, Sing your favorite song to an audience, Offer your service to a humanitarian cause, Travel around the world, learn a new language, run a marathon, start your own business. Learn a martial art, swim with dolphins, go backpacking, knit a scarf, take up dancing; salsa, tango, tap dancing, plant a garden, go on a safari.
Start writing down what comes to mind as you read these questions:
What if you were to die tomorrow? What would you wish you could do before you die?
What would you do if you had unlimited time, money and resources?
What have you always wanted to do but have not done yet?
Any countries, places or locations you want to visit?
What are your biggest goals and dreams?
What do you want to see in person?
What achievements do you want to have?
What experiences do you want to have / feel?
Are there any special moments you want to witness?
What activities or skills do you want to learn or try out?
What are the most important things you can ever do?
What would you like to say/do together with other people? People you love? Family? Friends?
Are there any specific people you want to meet in person?
What do you want to achieve in the different areas: Social, Love, Family, Career, Finance, Health (Your weight, Fitness level), Spiritual?
What do you need to do to lead a life of the greatest meaning?
Act! And remember, one step at a time is how the Great Wall was built. What college is nearby? What would I major in? What financing is available to me? Just calling a local college for a brochure may seem insignificant but so did the first Great Wall brick. If it's something you never did before it is a HUGE step.
