Do you ever have the desire to step out of your comfort zone and seek new experiences? This longing to diversify our life can happen at times when we feel especially stuck, whether it’s our career, daily routine, or relationships. We often want to look beyond our current situation and strive for new goals. It might feel intimidating to branch out, so here are seven ways to expand your horizon and push for new frontiers.
1. Pinpoint Where You Are Complacent in Life
The first step to expanding your horizon is to assess where you have become stagnant in life. This can happen when you find yourself just going through the motions without truly being present. It can feel much like when you’re doing the same workout every day—eventually, your muscles get used to it. The routine is no longer as rewarding or impactful.
In life, perhaps you have become complacent with your job, and your workdays always look the same. Consider shaking things up to expand your horizon. If you are employed from home, instead of always working in the same room, try changing locations. New scenery can bring a different energy and even inspiration.
Maybe you have become complacent with your health and lifestyle. Joining a new social circle—like a tennis club or art class—could open your world. It may be beyond what you are accustomed to, but you might find that this new frontier is really rewarding.
Start small by switching up what you do on your days off from work. Instead of always going to the same restaurant or taking your routine walk, try a new cuisine or go for a hike. You will find that experimenting with fresh activities can broaden your perspective.
2. Understand What Is Holding You Back
Sometimes, you find yourself not attempting something new because you are afraid of failure. Perhaps, in your past, you made a mistake, and your heart and mind remember this feeling and prevents you from trying again. This can lead to being stuck in a safe zone where you aren’t reaching for new horizons: we fear making changes.
The key is to understand what is holding you back. If the thought of taking a risk makes you nervous, ask yourself where that feeling is stemming from. Were you scolded as a child for messing up, which in turn has now made you doubt your full potential? Or maybe you grew up rarely experiencing disappointment, which makes it difficult to feel prepared in unknown situations.
Once you figure out what is boxing you in, you can work to push beyond it. Before embarking on a new project, tell yourself positive affirmations that will empower you. You can also write down any fears you might have about expanding your horizons, then crumple the paper up and throw it away. This is a cathartic feeling that will allow you to release any pent-up emotions. Expanding your horizon will be much easier after you get over the hurdle of self-doubt.
3. Pursue Opportunities Through Passion
Another way to expand your horizon and push for new frontiers is to chase opportunities that align with what you are passionate about. Life is short, so, ideally, everything we do should excite us or bring us joy.
If you are feeling trapped or disappointed in your job, remind yourself of why you entered that industry in the first place. If it still sparks passion within you, then make a plan for how you can pursue new opportunities. You can consider people you might interview for advice, or go online to find a list of different jobs in a specific business area. Exploring what is available can bring you to new frontiers.
The same goes for hobbies or learning new skills. If you’re taking a cooking class simply because your friends decided to but you really don’t love it, then find a new activity. Embark on something you do feel passionate about. Maybe you have always wanted to learn Spanish or how to play the piano. Take the first step by finding an instructor and committing to a lesson once a week. Whatever your interests may be, now is the time to pursue them to expand your horizons.
4. Consider Time and Money
It’s important to keep in mind the time and money that goes into expanding your horizon. We all only have 24 hours in a day, so how we choose to spend each moment is important.
When you consider the new experiences you are seeking, ask yourself what the payoff or benefit will be. If you start taking singing lessons, consider if it will end up advancing your life. Is the time that it will take to practice or commute worthwhile because you get to socialize or release stress? Understanding if the time required for expanding your horizon is beneficial will allow you to commit more fully to the process.
Money is the second key factor when it comes to pushing for new frontiers. You do not want to jump into an endeavor and be financially unprepared. If you are looking to change your career, consider researching if there is additional schooling you might have to pay. If you are starting your own business, be sure to create a budget and put a business plan in place. When it comes to expanding your horizons, money, if spent wisely, is an element that will allow you to accomplish many new ventures.
5. Build Relationships That Will Elevate You
Part of expanding your horizon is widening your knowledge and mindset, which can come from developing uplifting relationships. Every person you meet will have unique opinions and outlooks on life. Finding those people who elevate you is vital for living a fulfilling life.
Having a friend or significant other who cheers you on when you are stepping out of your comfort zone can make the process less daunting. It is also important to find someone who will challenge you to be the best version of yourself. This person can hold you accountable for sticking to your goals or changing your habits. A diverse array of supporters will allow you to expand your horizon with more confidence.
Along with building positive relationships, you should also let go of connections that are not serving you. You will be unable to grow and find new experiences if you are stuck in bonds with people who are holding you back.
You can also manage how often you are around family and how much you allow them to impact your life. Your loved ones know your triggers and can occasionally fill your head with self-doubt when you are trying a new activity. On the other hand, they might be very supportive and encouraging. Sometimes creating more space between you and your relatives gives you the independence you need to expand your horizon.
6. Create a Vision Board
Chasing new goals can feel intimidating at first, but creating a vision board helps get you started and excited. If you want to expand your horizon through traveling more often, consider printing out pictures of your dream destinations and writing down a few words that motivate you towards that goal.
This vision board does not have to be an elaborate art piece, it might just be a few pictures on your fridge. The idea is to create reminders of what you’re working towards and inspire you to keep going. We are more likely to achieve our aspirations when we put them into writing and associate them with motivating images.
A vision board does not have to be entirely visual, either. Music can be a powerful tool for expanding your horizon. Certain songs might evoke specific emotions and remind you of times when you were successful, empowered, or loved. Consider creating a playlist of songs that will energize you whenever you are participating in an activity outside of your comfort zone. This will boost your confidence and make pushing for those new frontiers seem more attainable.
7. Leverage Technology
The beauty of technology is that it gives us so much power to expand our horizons. Right from our computers and phones, we have the ability to connect with different people, research exciting opportunities, or escape from reality for a bit.
Maybe you’ve been feeling less in touch with people these days because you’re home more often. Luckily, there are still chances to build relationships from home. If you are looking for a romantic partner, consider signing up for an online dating platform and going on a date over Zoom. You never know who you’ll meet, and you might find that an online connection allows you to get to know a person in a more intimate setting.
There are also many ways to expand your horizon through networking online. Researching people in the role you aspire to have and sending them an email or asking to have a phone call can lead to a valuable resource. You might go online to watch tutorials for learning new skills or read articles on topics that interest you. Doing this will expand your expertise in different areas and allow you to discover new talents. In many ways, technology can be a useful mechanism for expanding your horizon.
Final Thoughts
The benefits of expanding your horizon and pushing for new frontiers are plentiful—particularly the personal development and joy for living that comes with it. Many people remain stuck in relationships, jobs, or habits because they believe the grass will not be greener on the other side. However, if you hold yourself back from taking that leap of faith, you will miss out on important life experiences.
So, use these seven tips and challenge yourself to expand your horizon. You will feel pride in discovering what you are truly capable of and thrilled by how much life has to offer.
More Tips on Expanding Your Horizons
Featured photo credit: Kelly Sikkema via unsplash.com
