Change can be uncomfortable and often times met with resistance, especially when it comes to trying new things that challenge our firm beliefs and habits. However, embracing these things can lead to unexpected discoveries
My First Enemy
Like most kids, I used to be a very picky eater. If I saw something that was green, even if I never tried it before, I would freak out. “Why would anyone eat that, it looks naaasty Plus, IT’S GREEN!!!” I would do anything in my power to not consume the forbidden green thing. It would be a pain for my mom, so much so that she had to figure out ways to sneak them into my food.
When it was blended in or snuck in a spoonful I would be ok with it because I was not aware that some nasty foreign substance invaded my food. It was only after I ate my food that my mom would ask me about her cooking, I replied truthfully saying“It was really good!”
“You just ate a ton of vegetables btw, I just blended it into the soup.” she said to me.
This was one of the craziest betrayals of all time. How could she do such a thing…
I was having an existential crisis because the food was good, but it had the green stuff… and we as kids, do NOT eat vegetables… am I a traitor?
After I got over this betrayal, I realized that I should probably at least try these things before I reject them, it was good stuff after all so I wouldn’t want to miss out.
As a kid, this was way harder said than done but, I was trying.
Second Chances
This is a concept I enjoy revisiting when I find myself saying “No, I don’t like that” when in reality, I’ve only given it a handful of chances and in those chances, I went in with a very narrow mindset.
I wrote a couple of reasons why we say we might not like something, this could apply to anything:
Someone else said something bad and you might have preconceived judgment
Tried it once and wrote it off forever
Tried multiple times with a tainted view and going into it saying “I won’t like it”
You don’t want to change your original stance
It's all too easy to fall into the trap of having a narrow mindset, especially when it comes to things we've tried before and didn't enjoy. We might say things like "I hate sushi" or "I'm not a fan of jazz" without giving these things a fair chance. In many cases, our initial experiences with something might have been negative, but it's important to realize that these experiences aren't always indicative of how we'll feel about something in the future. By approaching things with a more open mind, we can learn to appreciate new experiences and broaden our horizons.
It’s not about trying these things again. It’s about trying them with a clear mind as if you’ve never seen this thing before, looking from an unbiased point of view.
“Any preconceived ideas and accepted conventions limit what’s possible”
-Rick Rubin
Notes
Personally, the artists I enjoy most right now in music are the ones that I genuinely hated on at first. I would skip their features, and talk trash when they came on. Then I realized that I hadn’t even listened to a single album, so I backed off.
If this artist kept popping up and I always had something to say, there was obviously something there that piqued my interest, it wasn’t a good interest, but maybe it could be. I was painting the artist in a negative light and I had to let him do his thing before I closed my ears off and talked. I truly believe that this transition makes someone an even bigger fan, as opposed to liking them straight off the bat.
This applies to everything: food, friendships, movies, clothes, basically anything you may have a strong negative opinion towards, try zooming out and looking at these things with a true clear lens.
After reading this, consider revisiting the music of an artist you previously disliked. By doing so, you may begin to realize how easy it is to give things a second chance. Keep applying this approach to various parts of your life, and you might be surprised by how beneficial it can be.
Just try it, it won’t hurt.
See you soon!
-SM
Great thoughts!
It makes me think of the concept of heuristics, psychological shortcuts that allow us to make quick decisions but for so many things our first react is not necessarily fair or considered. Digging deeper and reconsidering first impressions can lead to a richer appreciation.
Awesome read :) it's crazy how common it is to come around to things we never thought we'd enjoy. Second chances and trying again can do so much more for us than we think 🧠