7d • Tools That Help
Be Shit at Something New
Think about all the things you’ve always wanted to try but never did. You gave up at the first hurdle, or you were too embarrassed, worried that people would take the piss. Well, do you know what? Fuck them. And fuck that little voice in your head telling you that you can’t do it.
Try it anyway. Do it just for yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others—compare yourself to who you were yesterday. The only real measure of progress is how far you’ve come; not how close you are to some imaginary finish line.
Fail. Fail fast. Fail often. And then keep going.
Nobody is a natural. Nobody starts as an expert. Every master was once a beginner. The key is persistence, not perfection.
I started rugby at 12 with my friends and other people some had been playing since they were six. It’s almost like a form of torture to be on a rugby field in the winter and not know what you’re doing with boys twice your size trying to smash into you and you can’t catch the ball. It was similar thing going to a Muay Thai class 25 years later and a BJJ class 38 years later. Walk into a martial arts gym where everyone is throwing hands and/or throwing people around is the most intimidating. You look and feel and stupid for a year, but the key is to remember that comparison is the theft of joy. The people who are better than you are because they have been coming longer. Their path has been different to yours. Do not compare to other people. Compare to your own progress on a month-by-month basis. The path to success is rarely linear.
Why This Helps Your Mental Health
Research shows that learning new skills can improve mental well-being. A study by the University of Otago found that engaging in creative activities—whether it’s painting, playing an instrument, or even learning a new sport—leads to an increase in positive emotions and life satisfaction.
Another study in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who regularly engage in learning new skills experience higher levels of happiness and lower stress levels. This is because novelty and challenge stimulate the brain, releasing dopamine (the feel-good chemical) and reducing symptoms of depression.
Even failing is good for you. Learning to cope with failure builds resilience—a critical factor in long-term mental well-being. Psychologists call this a “growth mindset”—the belief that you can improve through effort rather than talent. Research by Carol Dweck at Stanford University shows that people with a growth mindset are more likely to persevere through difficulties, experience less anxiety, and feel a greater sense of control over their lives.
Luck is When Preparation Meets Opportunity
You never know what trying something new might lead to. You’ll meet new people, discover a hidden talent, or find a new passion. It’ll just be fun. But if you never try, you’ll never know.
So, join that club. Take that class. Pick up that guitar. Life is too short to let fear or self-doubt stop you. Be shit at something new—because one day, you might not be shit at it anymore.
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Be Shit at Something New
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