May 27, 2023April 6, 2023 by Pete Wiley

Breadth of Experience—the Benefits of Dabbling

Throughout our lives, we have the opportunity to encounter an enormous variety of activities and experiences. Some may seem out of reach—either because we feel we’re not talented enough or because it would be too hard to become proficient. Maybe we feel we wouldn’t enjoy it or that it’s out of our comfort zone. But the fact is, these reasons are just excuses. We won’t really know if something is possible unless we try.

Trying something doesn’t mean making a long-term commitment. We can try activities in the short term and see if we have an aptitude for it or if we enjoy it. On the other hand, we shouldn’t stop doing something without giving it a chance—it might grow on us or we might enjoy it once we get some experience and get even a little bit better.

Ultimately, the more things we try, the more likely it will be that we will find our passion.

Don’t sweat being an expert

I have had a lifelong connection with music. Early in my youth, I was exposed to it constantly (my mother was a music teacher, and my father was a fan of jazz). It resonated with me right from the beginning. When my siblings and I were very young, my mother taught us piano lessons. They didn’t take, not because we didn’t like music, but because, at the time, we weren’t interested in putting in the work. I also played trumpet in the school bands. I never practiced and I wasn’t very good. Eventually, I found my own musical style—playing the kind of music that touched me personally on guitar. I also made friends who played guitar and I took lessons.

I had a friend who needed a bass player for his band. I didn’t play bass, but started playing to take advantage of this opportunity. I played in this band, which led to opportunities and a series of bands over the years. I loved playing in bands and became better and better. I also played guitar through the years. I became “good” (I might even humbly say “very good”), but I never approached becoming an expert.

The bottom line is, if I had worried about becoming an expert, I wouldn’t have made it past my piano and trumpet experiences. By dabbling with different instruments, I found a few that I really enjoy and have given me a rich set of experiences that have been among the most meaningful in my life. I’m still not “expert” but I love what I do.

Don’t give up on something just because you don’t take to it right away or because you’re not motivated to practice. Continue to dabble and you might find something you love. And you eventually might find a path toward becoming an expert.

Finding balance

Where is the threshold at which we might give something up if we’re not enjoying it?

If we really hate something, we can, of course, stop doing it immediately. But bear in mind that any changes we make in our lives require some level of discomfort and, in some cases, even embarrassment or pain. This is OK—if we can find a reasonable tolerance level for discomfort and not get too frantic about embarrassment, we will have many more opportunities than we would have if we always avoided those feelings (see Comfort).

Of course, we will always have experiences that are ill-advised or just not in tune with our style or energy. We should trust that instinct as long as we’re sure we’ve given it a fair chance. As with many aspects of life, the key is finding a balance between trying new things and trusting our instincts.

A spirit of discovery and exploration

Why try new things if we’re happy with what we’re doing?

Keeping an open mind to trying new things will not only result in exciting and meaningful experiences; it will also instill a love of discovery—of trying different things for the sheer joy of new experiences. This can lead to a love of exploration and curiosity that can carry over to many aspects of our lives.

When we’re trying new things, our brains develop new synaptic connections. We will also gain an increased aptitude for learning. Because of this effect, we will get better more quickly at anything we try.

Dabbling or being a dilettante has long had negative connotations, but ultimately any experience we have will add richness and meaning to our lives.

Everything new we try adds another layer to who we are and increases our connections with the world. We should never hesitate to try anything that sparks our interest, no matter how daunting it looks.