“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” — Albert Einstein
Routines can be great — they provide order & sanity to our lives.
On the other hand, because routines do such a good job of keeping our lives in order they also inadvertently discourage the exploration of other ways of navigating life and work.
Breaking routine — trying to do things differently — presents an inherent risk.
What if the grass isn’t greener on the other side?
What if things get harder?
What if I don’t like what I see?
It’s true, all these things are possible.
It’s also possible that in breaking routine and trying things differently you find that the grass is greener, things get easier (over time), and you like the new areas of life you so bravely decided to venture into.
‘Unicorn in Captivity’ at The MET. On the one hand, the unicorn appears to be sheltered by the fence. On other hand, by remaining within the confines of the fence, the unicorn remains fundamentally distanced from the world around it.
The expedition you choose to take in life can be as limited or as expansive as you’d like.
If you like your routine and genuinely never find yourself wondering how else life could be, then great.
On the other hand, if you find yourself just wondering some days… then maybe taking the leap — the risk — in order to understand what else this life has to offer is exactly what makes sense to do.
If you live life differently, you will experience life differently;
If you live life the same way, you will always see life the same way.
