Experimenting far beyond the confinement of our comfort zones appears to be quite a tedious and nerve-wracking task. It requires bravery, courage, and even some dignity to bear all against the unknown dangers of stepping outside the walls we’ve built to shield ourselves from the world.
From a young age, we are taught and expected to follow strict guidelines and regulations to ensure we do not overstep our boundaries. The rules enforced result in fear, as well as some curiosity we are not allowed to delve into, ultimately to suppress the urge to take risks. While some may protest that experimenting with things that we are unfamiliar with is dangerous, they're a crucial part of our growth not just as a society, but most importantly, as individuals.
No matter the circumstance, it's vital that we, every once in a while, take a step back and reflect on the things we have always wanted to explore, but never dare try simply due to fear of judgment and the possible unintended consequences that may follow as a result of our actions. We are made to believe that even the simplest of tasks can be so daunting. Whether it be experimenting with new people of different genders in the dating world, attending the social events that always freaked us out because "the environment was never exciting," or even just finding a new hobby to play around with sets the precedence for even more development in our maturity.
It's important that we fully comprehend that while experimentation can be an exciting and seemingly harmless way to discover things about ourselves hidden beneath what we and everyone else can see, it's also important that we recognize that we should always proceed with some sort of caution. Much like anything, exploring new realms has it's own set of risks that we must be careful of.
Speaking on behalf of personal experience, I have spent the last year reflecting on my own choices and what I wanted to do once graduation came. With a newfound awareness of the uncharted territory of accessible knowledge, I began experimenting with different aspects of writing. From poetry, to music journalism, I tried a bit of everything. I dedicated my time to honing in on the skills I needed to improve on most. Allowing myself to let go of my thoughts and aggressions through pen and paper opened up a whole new outlet for self-discovery and expression, which is something I felt I wasn't able to do growing up. Upon hearing that I could take this new hobby and put it to good use, I pushed myself harder than ever before, and I'm now coming to learn that my efforts to branch out of my comfort zone have paid off rather well.
