Life is about living actively rather than passively. Here are three core principles for making the most of your experiences.
1. Push Past Your Comfort Zone
I want to get comfortable being uncomfortable. I apply a “brushing my teeth test” – if a week feels like autopilot, I’m not pushing enough. Learning tennis despite poor skills, starting to write despite initial struggles – these are the things that make life interesting.
Growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone, never inside it.
2. Erase Boundaries
Having visited 13 of 195 countries and 25 of 50 U.S. states, I know there’s so much more to discover. I’ve recognized that prioritizing familiar activities like golf and home projects means missing discovery opportunities. The goal is allocating time for new experiences that might reveal unexpected passions.
The world is vast and full of wonder. Don’t limit yourself to what you already know.
3. Be Intentional
Rather than waiting for opportunities, create them. My 2017 “firsts” include traveling to Cuba and Costa Rica, learning to surf, taking online courses, and starting to write.
Crucially, add deadlines to your bucket list. Without specific timeframes, goals become perpetually postponed. A dream without a deadline is just a wish.
Benefits of New Experiences
- Enhanced human connections – shared experiences bring people together
- Ability to contribute knowledge to others – the more you experience, the more you can share
- Manufactured inspiration – unfamiliar contexts spark creativity in ways routine never can
The richest life is one filled with varied experiences. Don’t settle for the comfort of routine when adventure is waiting.
This post is part of a series of letters to my kids. My goal is to reflect on and capture as many life lessons as possible.