Novelty: The New Way For Personal Change

I just can’t do it. Or simply won’t. One month into the year and guess what, my exercise goals are at a standstill. There’s got to be a better way than going to the gym.

The New Year’s Resolution is supposed to incite change and action, but it feels like deja vu. I set ambitious goals and they never get accomplished. New year, same results.

There’s a saying that goes, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” To me, insanity is forcing myself to do something I don’t want to and expecting a change.

I know I’m not perfect, but the New Year’s Resolution isn’t either.

Why The New Year’s Resolution Is Flawed

The New Year’s Resolution is ineffective because it uses a rigid structure in hopes of invoking change. Below are some of the common challenges we face.

• Motivation vs. Laziness

• Goal Setting vs. Improvising

• Consistency vs. Variety

The path of least resistance is a highly frequented one. Not many people (me included) have the willpower to commit to months of hard work over and over again. Maybe I’m just stubborn and weak, but there has to be another way.

Evolution Is Change, Right?

I think back to our history as humans and wonder how our ancestors managed to accomplish their fitness and nutrition goals. They certainly didn’t set resolutions to attend morning yoga and avoid fatty T-Rex steaks. Previous Homo Sapiens didn’t have to think about a healthier lifestyle. They were focused on surviving the sabertooth tiger chasing them.

What facilitated their change?

Novelty.

Each new experience forced humans to adapt and evolve. It was novelty that enacted change, allowing humans to become the dominant species on Earth.

Today’s Novelty Dilemma

In the past, humans encountered novelty by coincidence. Today, novelty is all around us. The rise of social media has resulted in a never-ending flood of new information. In response, our brains have learned to curate what’s most important, flashy, and urgent.

However, this choice doesn’t come without consequences. The novelty that was crucial to our survival long ago is now occupied, keeping us trendy and relevant.

Ask people about the latest celebrity craze or clothing trend. How about the landscape of next year’s NFL recruits? We’ve gotten so good at seeing the change in others that we’ve forgotten how to enact change within ourselves.

Change Is A Choice of Novelty

Here’s the real question.

Do the things that capture our attention reflect the changes we wish to make in our lives? If not, how can we pursue growth that actually matters to us?

We know that novelty encourages change. So, we must create novelty in the areas we wish to change. But how can we accomplish this when we are barely treading water above the constant flood of new information?

Instead of trying to swim against the stream, we must develop the ability to generate waves in the midst of it. We need to create novelty on the spot.

The Powers of Vuja De

Enter vuja de, the ability to generate waves of novelty, no matter the conditions. In contrast to deja vu, vuja de is the ability to experience something familiar as if it were strange and unknown. It’s a perspective shift to discover the new in something existing.

Think about going back home for the holidays. What do you look forward to? Maybe it’s getting to see your family and friends again or the opportunity to eat at your favorite restaurant. You’ve done these things before, so what’s so exciting about it? Although similarities might exist, no experience is ever the same. The activity. The people. The conversation. All can be different, each and every time.

That’s the power of vuja de, to create new memories from what once was familiar. Vuja de engages with the novelty we crave as humans and we can harness it for personal change.

How To Harness Vuja De For Personal Change

Vuja de reminds us that old experiences can have renewed meaning… if we choose to embrace them.

Here are steps to harness vuja de for personal change.

1. Identify the change you wish to make.

2. Figure out what’s boring and difficult.

3. Use the vuja de perspective to discover different and new approaches

4. Create change with novelty, trying one experience after the next

Novelty Applied To Physical Health

As I mentioned earlier, going to the gym regularly isn’t the solution for me. Vuja de to the rescue! Here’s how I’ve created personal waves of novelty by using the steps outlined above.

1. Identify the change you wish to make — I want to improve my physical health.

2. Figure out what’s boring and difficult — Doing the same repetitive activity like running or going to the gym.

3. Use the vuja de perspective to discover different and new approaches

   • Exercise as a game to track health

   • Exercise as an opportunity to sightsee

   • Exercise as an event to socialize

4. Create change with novelty, trying one experience after the next

   • Gamify the experience with the Apple Watch Workout feature

   • Explore the town of San Luis Obispo by going on walks

   • Compete against family and friends in pickleball matches

As straightforward as this list might look, the process was not as simple. In each of these instances, I’ve leaned into curiosity and exploration to overcome my lack of motivation to exercise. This perspective change has not only improved my physical well-being but also created unique moments, one of which is the 1st Annual Goo Pickleball Tournament.

What I’ve learned so far is this.

Change is needy. It requires effort, attention, and has no problem making you uncomfortable. You’re in for a tough battle if you want to go head-to-head with change.

My advice, fight 2v1. Ask Novelty to jump in the ring.

Novelty is nurturing. You might not notice it, but it’s always around the corner, ready to help. It starts with a simple question, “What if?”

Just like a piece of paper holds the potential for stories untold, there are infinite ways to reimagine something existing into something novel.

Novelty is exciting, motivating, and life-changing. It broadens our perspective, keeps us well-rounded, and makes us better people.

The New Year is a great time for reflection and resolution. We think about things we appreciate and things we want to improve. Beyond that, it reminds us that life happens fast.

Age is measured in years, but life is measured in moments… old, new, and renewed. The key to a new you is not the change of the new year. It’s embracing novelty throughout life.

May your 2024 be filled with life’s beginnings, ends, and once agains. Instead of a short-sighted New Year’s resolution, let’s take a chance on something new. You’ll never know what change lies on the other side.

As part of our community, we would love to hear your plan to incorporate vuja de and novelty into your life. Feel free to share your story in the comments.

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