Everyone has been through it. A first day at school or taking on a new job. Learning to drive or being the new player in a team. Joining a new fitness class or taking on that new piece of gym equipment. The majority of people will have felt the same way, with varying severity, towards at least one of those or something similar. It’s impossible to go through life without being exposed to new experiences but while some people can embrace those with excitement and positivity, others dread being the ‘noobie’ and avoid change at all costs.
The nerves take over and convince you that it’s much safer to stay in your comfort zone and avoid the possibility of making a fool of yourself or getting injured. The fear of failure can be crippling and trap you inside your own body. The reluctance to take that leap of faith begins a downward spiral of negativity as you tell yourself how silly you’re being for not having the confidence to get stuck in like any ‘normal’ person. In turn, having convinced yourself that you hadn’t got the confidence to join in on this occasion, you will then repeat the process the next time the opportunity for a new experience comes along.
I have had to push the edges of my comfort zone on several occasions and there’s always that feeling of ‘what if’. I’m nervous at the start of any new job and even any new fitness class. I was nervous the first time I stepped into the kickboxing ring and I’m even a little anxious when meeting new people but there have been no occasions where I’ve regretted taking that leap of faith. Not every situation has turned out as Id have liked, for example I took a real beating in my first kickboxing fight, but I’ve gained experience from every new situation. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a comfort zone that I’m very happy in. There are still situations I’m anxious about confronting but it’s not all about being a model of positivity. It’s about not letting those feeling cripple you to the point of feeling like it’s impossible to try a new activity.
The sense of accomplishment that you can feel from trying new experiences can open up a completely new mindset and open up opportunities that you had previously ruled out. When even a part of that fear can be conquered, it makes room for you to be a lot happier with yourself and more positive about future decisions but how do you go about overcoming those nerves.
It’s OK for Nike to say ‘Just Do It’ but in reality they have a whole team of people paid to analyse every decision they make. They don’t ‘Just Do’ anything. When it comes to fitness and wellbeing their approach can teach us some coping mechanisms though. Try finding someone who is willing to take on a new fitness class with you or is prepared to look as confused as you when trying out the new piece of gym equipment. There will always be gym instructors or Personal Trainers around who are happy to explain how something works and guide you through it all. If it’s easier for you, just ask another gym goer. Think of the last time someone asked you for advice and how good that made you feel. Rather than feel bad about not being entirely confident about a new experience, feel positive about giving someone else the feeling of pride as they offer you assistance. We’ve all been a beginner once.
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