Take the first step immediately
from the book “Useful Not True”:
I spent basically my whole life in America, and had no desire to travel or be anywhere else. But one day I was thinking about growing older, and how people get stuck in their ways as they age. I thought what a learning experience it would be to move somewhere far away — somewhere that surprises me every day. Doing that often would be great for my brain.
The more I wrote about it in my journal, the more I felt it matched my values. So, out of curiosity, I looked up the price of a flight to London. I picked a random departure date four months away, and a return date six months after that. It was only $400 round trip — a crazy sale price too good to miss. So without hesitation, I typed in my credit card and booked it.
It took a few seconds to realize what I’d done. I just committed to moving to London for six months. Whoa.
Four years later, I was living in Singapore, had a baby with a woman from India, and moved to New Zealand to raise him. I’m a citizen of three countries now, and deeply happy with my life. I think of the impact of impulsively booking that flight.
On the other hand, there were many times where I thought I wanted something — in theory — then took the first step, and realized I was wrong. Taking action tests your thought in reality.
Here’s a good rule from experience: If you’re considering something destructive — that would hurt someone or yourself — be very reluctant, keeping all other options in mind for some time. But for anything else, take the first step immediately, without hesitation. Start momentum.
Deliberately choosing the thing that surprises you every day. That's a completely different relationship with uncertainty than most people ever develop.
Love this. I followed a similar path, and I’m a much happier person today than when I left the US in 2003. 5 countries later and I’ve finally settled to put down roots.
I frame it as “becoming comfortable with discomfort” I also like “expanding your surface area of serendipity.”