We can experience more energy, engagement and enthusiasm in life when we tap into the power of novelty and challenge.
Here's how to do it:
1. Making Novelty Meaningful: When something is novel to us, it feels fresh and activates our brain in a very different way. When we see or experience something new, we feel rewarded. The challenge in the modern era is when novelty drives us to distraction. That drive of dopamine that rewards us for paying attention to new things can therefore become our worst enemy! For novelty to positively activate us in our lives, we must plan for it. Make sure you're learning new things you that will help you grow and advance your life. Ask yourself, "What would I love to learn to get better at what I do in my life?" When you pay attention to new things in this area, novelty becomes meaningful and helps you develop. This is the way to make sure the novelty you experience feels exciting and fully charged!
2. Making Challenges Meaningful: Challenge is everything for our own advancement and growth. It's one of the Forward Drives that can activate our lives. Oftentimes if we ever feel bored or frustrated in our lives, we're simply lacking a meaningful challenge! Ask yourself, "What new meaningful challenges am I pursuing right now?" Meaningful challenges have two components: Creative Expression and Contribution. We get excited about new challenges that creatively express what we think, what we feel and who we are AND provide the opportunity to contribute something meaningful. So make sure the challenges you take on are part of your life's work and not just busywork. This is the difference between challenges that feel like a responsibility and one in which there is true contribution.
So what new challenges can you take on personally or as a team to stretch the boundaries of your beliefs and behaviors? You can purposefully add more novelty to your life and challenge yourself creatively in a contribution-oriented way. This is the way to keep yourself energized, excited and living The Charged Life!
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About Brendon Burchard
Brendon Burchard is one of the most followed personal development trainers of our time, and a Global Top 100 Most Followed Public Figure on Facebook. He is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose books include The Motivation Manifesto, The Charge, The Millionaire Messenger, and Life's Golden Ticket. Brendon is also the star and executive producer of the #1 self-help show on both YouTube and iTunes, and his social media posts reach over 10,000,000 people per week worldwide. A popular seminar trainer and speaker, he was recently named by SUCCESS Magazine as one of the world's Top 25 Most Influential Leaders in Personal Growth and Achievement, along with Oprah, Deepak Chopra, Joel Osteen, Arianna Huffington, Dave Ramsey, Dr. Oz, and Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg. Entrepreneur Magazine rates his marketing seminar for thought leaders, called Experts Academy, as one of the Top 5 Must-Attend seminars for entrepreneurs. Larry King calls him "one of the top motivation and marketing trainers in the world." Recognized as a thought leader in human motivation and business marketing, Brendon is the recipient of the Maharishi Award and he sits on the Innovation Board at Xprize Foundation. Visit his website or blog for more information.