The Art of Trying Something New

Have you ever tried something in public that you knew you had no talent for? Today I did just that by taking a Basic Drawing class at my local art store. Had I paid for the class myself, I would have backed out weeks ago, but luckily for me, the class was a Christmas present; and not attending would have been just rude and ungrateful.

So, I went.

Yes, from 9:45-3:30 today, I tried to understand things like perspective and lines and strokes and eraser finesse. It turns out that after hours of practice and 4 sketches later, I have confirmed that my talent does not lie in the visual arts. But for me, the class gave me so much more than instant art skill. It gave me a boost in self esteem, and it exercised my brain.

Getting out of our comfort zones can do that.

When we try new things, our brain has to do a little re-wiring and that really flexes its cognitive musculature; and that makes us brighter and healthier. I'm no thrill seeker, so something like this drawing class really got my nerves jumping - another positive aspect of getting out of your comfort zone. When you're nervous but you "do it anyway," you practice overcoming fear - no matter how insignificant that fear may actually be.

I've done things like this before and failed miserably. (Yes, that can happen sometimes when you do things outside of your comfort zone.) Once I had the bright idea to recite a piece of poetry at a friend's birthday party. I practiced it for weeks. But when the time came to stand in front of everyone at the party and recite the poem, I bombed! I started shaking and I could hardly talk. It was so embarrassing and I barely got through it. I had never had that reaction in front of a crowd before and it really bothered me for a long time.

Now I realize that is the whole point of trying new things. Sometimes we will fail. So what. It's not the product of what we try, but the fact that we tried in the first place that's important.

So, with pride in my time spent at something totally foreign to me, I present to you the still life sketches of Danan Whiddon. There are only 4, which should make them more valuable on Antiques Road Show   200 years from now.

If you have a story of getting out of your Comfort Zone, I would love to share it on my radio show. Message me at DananWhiddon.com to tell your story.

Thanks!!!