I was just discussing this same topic with my mom a few days ago. I told her there really were new things I would like to try, even though I tend to be an extreme neophobe. One was to drive to another city (there are many in my area) and spend the weekend. Maybe where they have a "watermelon fest" or chili cook-off or "first Monday". (Note: the food-related ideas tend to draw my attention first.) Texas is full of these events. My sister often takes off to Oklahoma or elsewhere to fish for the weekend, usually alone. And she thinks nothing of it. But she gets her "alone time" only in abbreviated fashion. Not like me -- I sit and watch TV or Netflix "instant watch" for many hours a day.
What else would I like to do? Try to sell my paintings and resume attending a county-wide poetry society. But I can find excuses not to pretty easily. It would help if I would just have one thing in my sights instead of a whole list. Live by the list, die by the list. Also, if I try something and fail the first time, I am very reluctant to ever try it again.
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I very much agree with the inferences of the study and your statements. I think that the stress form avoiding new experiences, the inability to leave the house and try to do new, or even every day activities, is more physically detrimental than the stress from facing and trying something new.
Not only that, but it makes us a more interesting person to talk to, whether we succeeded or failed. We do gain knowledge and stories to tell. :)
If we think about it, practically everyone does it; faces challenges and thinks how to solve them. Some cannot be solved right now, but one day, they will be. We just have to continue opening doors till then. And we have to walk out of ours.
The most stress? Heights. I avoid them, that's how I handle it. I'm not ready to take my own advice about that yet!
Hey Paul!
Very happy to see you here. I agree. I think that doing nothing is a choice and it can be harmful to our mental health in the long run. Yet it can be really hard to try something new and stressful too. It is all a matter of balance...not trying too many new things so that we feel overwhelmed...taking things slow.
I do thank you for your comment and I hope the next new thing you try is something fun and makes you feel good about yourself!