Shake It Up

Some people usually do the same thing over and over because it’s easy and they are used to it. They’ll continue to go to a job they hate. They’ll sit in the same seat in a classroom even though there’s no seating assignment. They’ll drive the same way to work, wake up at the exact same time and in some cases eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, or dinner every day. With these types of behavior their mind becomes stagnant, narrow, closed and finally useless. If there is no concrete reason for doing the same thing over and over again, such as driving the same way to work because it’s shorter and quicker, then some type of change may be in order.

In chess games, some people play the same moves or same openings every single game they play. Even if they lose, they’ll play the same way every time. The excuse they give is that they are persevering, that they don’t want to be a quitter. This is bunk. They do this because it’s the path of least resistance. Doing something new or different, like learning a new technique, takes effort. It is better to quit doing something that is not working or producing lackluster results and take the time to try different things and find something new that will help you win games because don’t be fooled, it's about winning.

For some people life is the same way. They’ll do the same thing over and over because it’s convenient, even if it’s producing substandard results. Succeeding can be difficult if you don’t try new things. Like a company, if they don’t come up with new products and new innovations they won’t be in business for long.

Don’t be afraid of new ideas or trying new things. They may take you to newer heights. Change your mental environment. Do something different. Shake things up a bit, get out of the rut. There’s an old saying that a rut is a grave with the ends kicked out.