Each day looks like the other. The same problems persist. You sleep walk through your day.
How do you shock your mind into living in the moment?
Like millions of others, I made the same mistake of planning my life. But life had other plans, so mine went up in smoke.
I thought being passionate about teaching would be enough to keep me happy. I didn’t realise I’d become part of a larger circus, focusing on ten other acts. That’s when I quit my job and started afresh.
Changed tack.
Now I’ve time blocks to do my work, no fixed timetable. I’ve taken up new hobbies and challenges. Set new targets.
My focus is on enjoying experiences, doing things I like and not making plans about enjoying life ONE day.
It’s about living in the now.
Think about it, it’s the small things in life that are more fulfilling and satisfying.
Like having a hot cup of coffee or tea while watching the rains or the sunrise.
Catching up with a friend, laughing loudly on inside jokes.
Going for a walk or a swim.
You’ve tried living a life pleasing others, living up to their expectations.
Now live life for yourself, at least some parts of it.
You owe that to yourself.
Why Spending Time And Money On Experiences Is A Better Investment
1. Creates Memories That Last a Lifetime
You carry vivid memories of each of the experiences with you forever, lighting you up from within with joy and happiness every time you recall them.
2. Builds Personal Growth
Anything new you experience adds to your growth.
Learning a new skill, travelling to a new place, exploring different cultures, meeting new people. It opens your mind and expands your worldview.
Travelling to a new country can be big learning experience by itself. Forget the sightseeing, navigating unfamiliar situations and systems, overcoming the language barriers, understanding the cultural differences (including food) and developing a deeper appreciation for the diversity. It all helps in personal growth.
3. Fosters Stronger Relationships
When you share experiences with family and friends it creates deeper bonds. Your shared memory binds you together, forming meaningful connections.
4. Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Your mind gets distracted with the new things you’re doing. Haven’t you felt refreshed and recharged after coming back from a vacation? Or when spending time learning a skill or hobby?
It’s because doing something new reduces the stress and anxiety.
If stress and anxiety reduce, it leads to overall better well-being. That’s the reason for investing in experiences since they build higher levels of sustained happiness, providing satisfaction for a longer time.
5. Encourages Lifelong Learning
When your mind is kept busy and active, it gets stimulated to be positive. Taking up language classes, joining a book club, exploring a new place or learning to play the guitar, every new experience has recharged my mind, helping me grow.
When I signed up to learn Italian, I stepped into a new world. Made new friends, shared similar interests, explored the culture, food, movies and music. It still fires me up and I’m still learning.
6. Breaks the Monotony of Routine
Instead of feeling like living on a hamster wheel you’ll feel like a bird soaring in the open skies.
Investing in experiences provides you with a refreshing change in pace and perspectives.
7. Enhances Creativity and Inspiration
When you try something new outside of your comfort zone, it triggers your creativity, brings fresh inspiration into your life, infusing energy into your otherwise drab existence.
3 ways new experiences boost creativity –
- Broadens your knowledge base.
- Encourages observation, experimentation and out-of-the-box thinking.
- Stimulates your brain with renewed vigour and passion.
8. Provides a Sense of Achievement
You can be doing great at your work, but that’s your job.
Investing in experiences provide you with a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment which is solely for you. When I gave my Grade 1 Trinity music exams, along with a bunch of school kids, I felt embarrassed. But the examiner was encouraging and that helped. And when I passed with distinction, it was unforgettable.
It reminded me that life’s true achievements come from challenging yourself.
And it’s not restricted to just professional success.
9. Encapsulates a Life Well-Lived
It’s experiences, not possessions, which define your life. They add meaning and purpose and richness to every moment.
People will remember what you did, how you lived your life, not your acquisitions or bank balance.
10. Improves Emotional Resilience
New experiences provide new challenges. These teach you to adapt, grow and persist, making you emotionally resilient. If you want to keep going, you have to learn to accept and overcome the challenges.
11. Transforms You into a Storyteller
You’ve loads and loads of stories to tell. You can add richness to any conversation. Your triumphs, failed attempts, the journey, all show how much you’ve grown and learned.
12. Strengthens Your Sense of Self
Your experiences teach you about yourself. Your strength, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, passions, interests, and maybe even purpose.
You develop a clearer and stronger self-identity.
13. Teaches Gratitude and Appreciation
Your experiences teach you to appreciate every opportunity you’ve been lucky to get, which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. You feel grateful and humble.
You learn to appreciate life as it unfolds.
14. Improves Work-Life Balance
Your work no longer dominates your life. The be-all and end-all, the raison d’etre of your existence. By focusing on other experiences, you learn to balance work and leisure, prioritise experiences as per requirements.
3 suggestions to create work-life balance –
- Join a literary or adventure or runners’ club. Meeting new people, going outdoors will motivate you to continue.
- Improve your skill set by learning something new and unique which will give you an advantage over the others.
- Sign up for city tours during the weekends. It’ll be something different and a fun way to spend the weekend.
15. Create a life of fulfilment, not regrets
When you’re able to live a full life, doing things you want to do, enjoying enriching experiences, you no longer have a list of regrets or of things you wished you’d done but never got around to doing them. That’s a blessing.
Conclusion
Investing in personal experiences teaches you that you’ve but one life. And you’ve to live it now because you don’t know what lives’ got in store for you tomorrow.
Chuck the plans to enjoy life after retirement or kids have left for college or you’ve bought your dream house.
Begin today. Go for that hike in the hills or joining the cookery class. Invest in yourself. Invest in personal growth, in your well-being, in your happiness.
What experience will you choose to invest in today?
