Take The Risk, Try Something New
“So you want to compete?” my coach, asked matter-of-factly from the bench by the rink. It was 6 AM on a Thursday morning, and the bright, white lights starkly contrasted with the pitch dark sky outside the window. I had wanted to enter solo dance competitions, and this year was my last opportunity to do so schedule-wise. I took my chances and nodded.
Synchronized skating had been my main experience, so I was initially excited to begin. I analyzed the new rules and picked my music. During the four months of practice, I spent each week to improve ice dances and work on my program.
However, this enthusiasm died down. I started to feel self-conscious in front of peers on the same session. Trying something new always felt intimidating to me, but I found that stepping outside of my comfort zone is important for me if I am to grow.
Why is it so scary to try something new?
Why does the unknown make us so uncomfortable? Even when presented with a great opportunity, sometimes I would be hesitant to take it if exceptional results were not guaranteed.
According to an article written by Grupe & Nitschke, ‘uncertainty in any circumstance involving the future correlates with increased anxiety’ [1]. It seems that we all want to first know whether or not we are good at something before we take the risk to try it out. Predicting whether it will help or hurt me, or if it is worth the time, allows me to feel more in control. Knowing what to expect allows me to feel at ease.
In the last few years, the activities that I had undertaken had a specific purpose to benefit me and my long term goals. My decision to join solo dance competitions, however, did not appear as important because it was only a short-term experience.
When I started to prepare for my first competition, I questioned and doubted myself. Is all of this really worth it? Should I be doing this? What do other people think of this? No reassurances soothed me that all of my efforts would not just be in vain. Often, I thought if only I had just stuck to synchro, life would be much easier, and less troublesome. I felt heavily tempted to just give up.
However, do not let these thoughts and fears stop you from pursuing something new. For me, I came to the realization that it was actually a good idea to try solo dance along the way and eventually came to appreciate my choice.
Realize your “Why.”
To break through the fear of trying something new, it is important to realize the root reason of why you are trying something new. Is it because it would help your efforts in achieving a goal? Or, is it because it would be something fun to take a shot at? For me, competing in dance competitions was something that sat on my bucket list for a long time.
During times when you feel insecure, remind yourself why you initially wanted to do it. This method becomes motivating as you can remove any thoughts that discourage or distract you.
During the times I started to feel tempted to quit, I recalled that I initially started because I had been considering it for ages, and since it was my last chance to join. My “Why” was that I did not want to regret later on not having tried it. By understanding this, I pushed myself to consider my core values, which provided some clarity on my decisions. Remembering that to give up meant regret later on gave me incentive to keep on going.
The importance of trying new things
Despite the uneasiness that comes with trying new things, stepping outside of your comfort zone is essential to developing as a person.
Practicing for these competitions allowed me to expand my confidence, and taught me to be less self-conscious. I realized that while practicing, most everyone was probably busy with their own goals, and not actually judging me. I learned to overcome the fear of judgment from others.
In addition, joining these competitions opened new doors of opportunity that I would not have known were available to me. I discovered the aspects of skating that I was good at, as well as the parts where I needed improvement. Because I participated in these competitions, it may have provided me the chance to attend Nationals.
When trying something new, it may be hard to predict what you are getting yourself into. Not knowing the costs might seem daunting, but also remember that benefits will come that you are not yet unaware of.
Do not be afraid of "the new'' and be ready to cross off the next thing on your bucket list. The possibilities are endless.
What are you going to try next?
References
[1] Grupe, D., Nitschke, J. Uncertainty and anticipation in anxiety: an integrated neurobiological and psychological perspective. Nat Rev Neurosci 14, 488–501 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3524