It is always possible, even in old age, to recall the children of the past to rediscover and surprise themselves.
Last update: December 26, 2018
Over the years, life can become more monotonous, sometimes even boring. Every day the same working hours, the same leisure activities, the same way to spend the weekends ... little by little the routine creeps in and, once established, it hardly goes away. When you enter this vicious circle, surprising oneself seems impossible.
Adding a pinch of emotion, diversity and surprise to our everyday life is very important for our mental and emotional health. But surprising yourself is not easy. How can this be done?
The surprise: between unconsciousness and passivity
Some people feel overwhelmed by their feelings. Lack of perspectives generates moodiness, discouragement or pessimism. On the other extreme we find individuals who are aware of their emotions, but who limit themselves to accepting them passively, without reactions. These people maintain an attitude of resignation and indolence.
Halfway between the two poles, we find all those people able to surprise themselves, who base their lives on acceptance, awareness and control of feelings. Their emotional life is richer, they are more autonomous and self-confident personalities.
Getting out of your comfort zone is the best way to surprise yourself
What is surprising is rarely found in one's comfort zone. We all have a natural tendency to go towards what we know and master. For this reason, in front of the unknown, we prefer that territory in which we feel at ease. True, when one's reality is comfortable, one does not feel the need to move away from it.
Yet, to foster personal development, it is advisable to go beyond the comfort zone to look out over what lies beyond it. Each step we take out of it will provide us with a new point of view on the world. However small it may seem, that step will bring us something different, new, attractive or fulfilling.
"Self-pity is something that doesn't give me any kind of pleasure."
– A single man –
Test your limits
To surprise yourself, you must not take actions that endanger your health or your physical or psychological well-being. Just test your mental limits. Because? The answer lies in the fact that the brain prefers to be conservative and keep its automatisms. Its cornerstone is the principle of cognitive economics, otherwise known as the law of least effort. He is not trained to go beyond built barriers.
Faced with the possibility of going out of your own patterns, the mind will always try to go towards the easier and, therefore, less risky choice. In short, he will try to sabotage our desire to go further. If, for example, our dream is to be a singer, the brain will first try to dissuade us from doing so. To do this, he will use every possible excuse: by now we are too big, it is a difficult environment in which to be able to make room, we are not really prepared, we will end up being disappointed ...
This happens because we are programmed to protect ourselves from dangers and maintain a state of alert in the face of adverse stimuli. For this reason, training our mind to become aware of the benefits of going beyond is one of the most difficult tasks. But you will see, the benefits you will get will pay off the efforts.
Examine your past… and overcome it
Ask yourself what you have always wanted, what you regret or have failed to achieve. And, importantly, try to understand the reasons that have prevented you from making your past dreams come true. What prevented you from doing this?
If the answer is your attitude or your prejudices, then the chances that you will be able to find a way to surprise yourself are very high. Remember, the brain will always opt for the least demanding decision in terms of effort. Will is the only factor capable of fighting conformity.
Do something unexpected
Hit the dance floor or try your hand at karaoke. Read a book in one day. Do something new, like going camping or signing up for a diving course. Try exotic foods, wear extravagant clothes. There are so many ways to stimulate your sense of ridicule.
Drop thoughts like "What will they think of me!" or "Not for me". If you want to change something, do it differently. Try activities that entertain you, motivate you and cheer you up. Perhaps the best is yet to come.
If you are too ashamed or worried about what others might think of you, you will return to the beginning of the problem: do not leave your comfort zone.. And this will paralyze your efforts to surprise you.
Recover part of your childhood
Children have an enviable ability to be surprised by anything. Everything attracts their attention, but their innocence and their desire to explore diminishes as they grow up. Yet, it is always possible, even in old age, to recall the children of the past to rediscover and surprise themselves.
When we are small and they make us choose between different toys, we choose the ones we really like. Our choice is not conditioned by external influences or interests of any kind. To be surprised, therefore, one must abandon prejudices, conditioning, obsessions or taboos. Be inspired by the moments of your childhood.
You run the risk of thinking. Allow yourself to surprise yourself. Let your imagination fly and let yourself be transported to any place in the world. Build the life you want and not the one that others impose on you. Let the geometry of your consciousness collapse for a moment. Be creative, know how to innovate. Anything that has not yet been invented in the recent future will probably be.
