They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and somehow expecting a different result.
So, if you’ve been doing the same thing for a long time, and it’s not making you happier, wealthier, or improving your skills… why are you clinging to it?
According to Nicholas Carleton, a psychology professor at the University of Regina, Canada, fear of the unknown is one of humanity’s fundamental fears. It’s so powerful, in fact, that it can shape our behavior just as much as — and maybe even more than — humanity’s fear of death.
So, we’d rather deal with a frustrating, broken system than make a change or try something new. It’s more psychologically comfortable for us to stay stuck than experiment, and easier to stick to familiar patterns than venture out for parts unknown.
And yet…
As a species, we’re naturally curious explorers. Our ancestors navigated the world in small wooden boats using only the stars centuries before anyone had even thought of GPS or cell phones. Those who came before us would routinely strike out for promising territory that was literally off the far edges of the map of the known world, walking boldly across lands that even today are considered wild and untamed.
It’s an interesting duality. We feel fear, anxiety, worry, and concern for the future. So, we can choose to cling to what we know, even if we know it’s not working or not taking us very quickly toward the direction of our dreams. Or, we can choose to draw on the side of ourselves that boldly goes forward, even if the outcome is uncertain.
All of this to say — even if you don’t share my fascination with ancient cultures and the human psyche — you don’t have to keep on doing anything that isn’t working. You can pivot, adapt, and strike out for someplace new in your life.
No, it won’t feel comfortable all the time. Humans are literally not wired in that way. Yet even as he was proving, scientifically, that the unknown and uncertainty of the future are fundamentally scary to us, Professor Carleton also found that stepping outside of your comfort zone is exactly what allows for learning and growth. In fact, giving yourself permission to push through the initial worry and fear could be exactly what makes your later successes feel so sweet and meaningful.