Want to change things up a bit and expose yourself to new things? Let other people make choices for you, even if it’s something little like what movie to watch or restaurant to check out.
We don’t often deviate from our daily choices. In fact, as we get older, we tend to fall into the same patterns and just repeat them over and over.
Day in and day out. We listen to the same type of music, eat the same type of food, go to the same type of places, watch the same type of TV shows, read the same type of books, etc.
In short – we stop growing as individuals. And when faced with a choice, we just default to what we normally choose. That’s what is safe. That’s what we are most comfortable with.
On one hand, this makes sense because we already know what we like, so why change it up and risk choosing something we won’t like? But on the other hand, we also limit ourselves from discovering new things that we may like (or even love).
One great trick for exposing yourself to new things? Let other people make choices for you.
The next time you’re looking for a new place to visit, or a new band to listen to, or a new movie to watch, simply ask a close friend or family member or coworker, “What do you recommend checking out?”
Then take their suggestion seriously – and check out their recommendation.
One advantage to asking people to recommend you something is that you will often get suggestions that you would’ve never considered or thought of. In this way, you are cultivating a more “open mind” toward new things.
Another advantage is that even if you don’t particularly like the person’s suggestion, at least you tried something new and now you have a new thing to talk about in conversation.
Asking people to make choices for you isn’t just about self-growth, it’s also about being more sociable. When people see you following through on their suggestions, it makes them feel good and it gives you guys something to bond over the next time you see each other.
This advice is really easy to follow, especially if you’re already making plans with someone or a group. Simply let them to decide on what to do, then join them whole-heartedly on whatever it may be.
In a strange way, letting other people make choices for you can also be very relieving. It frees you up from some of the burden that comes with making choices and taking responsibility for what happens. Instead, it opens you up more to enjoy the moment and whatever it may throw at you.
Of course I don’t recommend you stop making choices for yourself altogether. Being able to make your own choices is extremely important, but every now and then it is nice to let someone else take the wheel and see where you end up.
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