The power of "what if"

Break the cycle.

Happiness never comes without risk. Dare to be different. Dare to be adventurous. With the power of what if, you’ll open up a new world of adventures never thought of before.

Routines are necessary for people to thrive. There’s comfort in expecting the same outcome day in and day out. According to research by the Ontario Psychological Association, routines are a great way to reduce stress by providing stability.

But routines also need to be broken from time to time. Otherwise, if routines are all you know, it can feel like a conveyor belt where every day feels the same, acts the same and produces the same results.

A world where nothing ever changes presents its own set of issues. Repetitiveness leads to boredom, which leads to fatigue. It’s time for a change.

Side quests

Two people in astronaut gear on a desert plain holding hands. — *Photo by RDNE Stock project via Pexels.*

Life can become pretty mundane when you’re going through a repetitive cycle. Even when you’re the most productive you’ve ever been, using free resources or maximizing your study flow, something feels missing.

It’s not about being productive, it’s about growing as a person and seeking challenges. Life needs variety. Part of the adventurous spirit is embracing your spontaneous side. Seeking out or at least being receptive to life’s offerings.

How do you do that? Well, here’s a checklist for potential side quests that might be available to you today.

Start small. Eat somewhere you’ve never eaten, try out a new recipe or be a tourist in your own city.
See something that piques your interest? Go for it, inquire about it. Try it out.
Someone offers an activity that takes you off your normal day? See where life takes you.
Join an on-campus club that either matches your interests or pushes your boundaries.
You’re about to go to class, but stumble upon an IGNITE booth. Do the thing, get a prize, a souvenir or just an awesome time.
The IGNITE Contest is live and ready for the ultimate $5,000 side quest.

Part of the challenge people have with side quests is they consistently have their guard up. Asking themselves what the consequences are if they veer off the path. We seldom ask ourselves, what happens when we don’t.

Empower, not depower

A person ruminating. Sitting at a dinning room table looking out the window with his hand on his face. — *Photo by Andrew Neel via Pexels.*

I have a saying that I proclaim around my friends, family and colleagues alike.

“Never play the what if game”.

You may be asking yourself, “Isn’t there power in what if? Shouldn’t I use it to my advantage?” Absolutely! But it’s also important to recognize that ‘what if’ can be used negatively.

What you don’t want to do is ask “What if this negative thing happens?” or use it to regret what’s already been done. “What if I did this? The outcome would have been different.”

It’s not helpful or beneficial, although it may seem like it. It’s rumination disguised as anxiety and a learning opportunity. It can be healthy to reflect, but it has to be done in a controlled environment, like journaling. When done to prevent anything bad from ever happening again, it can only be detrimental to enjoying life’s wonders.

Maybe my phrase will change to never play the negative what if game.

Optimistic nihilism

Two yellow plush smiley faces. One with an open smile and one with a closed smile. In a box with other emoji faces on it. — *Photo by Pixabay via Pexels.*

Using “What if” in a positive way can be empowering. On the surface, nihilism seems gloomy, but in the right light, it’s liberating.

Optimistic nihilism operates on the fact that nothing matters. Taking the hopeful route, if nothing matters, then the world becomes your oyster. Everything doesn’t become as scary. Chances are viewed as opportunities rather than potential mistakes.

What if you went on a side quest? What if you thought outside the box and went on an adventure?

By using this new mentality, spark your creativity again. View the world through hopeful eyes and see what you’ve been missing.

It’s not an excuse to be reckless, but it’s a reason to try new things and see what opportunities arise when that happens.

And just imagine winning the big jackpot of $5000 by entering the IGNITE Contest. That can only be done with the power of what if.

Feature image courtesy of Porapak Apichodilok via Pexels.

Learn other ways of making life the best it can be. Check out how to build a personalized self-care kit!