Play Your Way to Creativity and Success with an Experimental Mindset

Imagine a world where life is a playground where every experience, whether it 'succeeds' or 'fails', is a chance to learn and grow, and a place where you are willing to fearlessly shift your perspective and open your mind to possibilities you've never considered before…  

That's the magic of adopting an experimental mindset. 

'If you're not making mistakes, you're not trying hard enough.’ - Oprah Winfrey

Let's dive into how this mindset is pretty much the key to surviving the rapidly changing world we live in right now. And how it can be a game-changer in your personal development journey because it lets you can flip the script on what it means to make mistakes and shift your perspective to free your creative mind.

Why an experimental mindset rocks

You give yourself permission to explore freely

First off, this mindset gives you the ultimate pass to explore.  

Have you ever wanted to try something new but felt held back by the fear of it not working out? 

Well, the experimental mindset is your new bestie, telling you to go for it and see what happens. Remember, there’s always a lesson if you’re willing to see it, so in actual fact, there is literally no such thing as failure. All you’re doing is finding out what doesn’t work on your way to figuring out what does. 

And have you ever caught yourself thinking, "That's just how I am" or "I've always done it this way"? 

Having an experimental mindset challenges you to ask, "What if I try a different approach?” “What’s the worst case scenario and what’s the best case scenario?”

Seriously, what if the best-scenario happens?

Chances are the worst-case scenario isn’t that bad, and it’s not the only scenario. Poke around in it for a bit and then get into seeing that rocking best-case scenario and put your energy into imagining that one instead.

You turbo-boost your creativity

It's like unlocking a new level of creativity. 

When you're open to experimenting, you start seeing the world as a playground of possibilities. You start to mix, match, and blend ideas in ways you never thought possible before.

Remember being a kid and asking a million questions about everything? And how you were buzzing with wanting to know everything and loved discovering new sh*t? 

Adopting an experimental mindset brings back that insatiable curiosity. It makes life more interesting because you're always on the lookout for something new to learn. And it's about bringing back that playful curiosity and being excited by the questions, not just the answers.

"Children who engage in more exploration and experimentation in play have stronger problem-solving and critical thinking skills later in life." (Source: American Psychological Association)

You learn from every outcome

In this mindset, every outcome is a win because it's another step towards your goal whatever that is - the project you're working on or your personal growth or development. It's all about learning, adapting, and having fun with the process.

There’s literally no such thing as failure when you have an experimental mindset. Every outcome is just another piece of data helping you refine your approach. 

You do have to analyse your outcomes though! So that you not only understand what didn’t work, but also what did work so you can either avoid or replicate what it is you did. 

What were your thoughts, beliefs, behaviours, and actions in play? 

By the way, did you know the invention of Post-it notes was a complete accident? Yep, a chemist at 3M was trying to create a super-strong adhesive but ended up with a weak one instead. However, he recognised the potential of this 'failed' invention and convinced his company to market it, leading to a multi-billion dollar product line.

So as you can see an experimental mindset equips you with powerful tools for growth and creativity, but what about those pesky mental blocks? The good news is that experimentation can also be your secret weapon for conquering common obstacles like fear of failure and self-doubt.

How experimentation counters your blocks

Fear of failure

Origin: Often rooted in past negative experiences, societal pressure, or perfectionism.

How experimentation counters fear of failure

• Reframing failure: View everything as a learning experience, not a definitive outcome. You can create whatever meaning you want for any experience. So you may as well create one that benefits you. So just for fun choose a past experience and re-meaningify it.
• Celebrating small wins: Recognise progress and accomplishments, not just final results. Toast a small win every time you have one (literally have a small soiree) and you’ll see more wins coming to join the party.
• Focussing on the process: Enjoy the journey of discovery and growth, not just the end goal. It’s all about the journey y’all!

Fear of judgment

Origin: Stems from insecurities, concerns about social acceptance, or negative past experiences.

How experimentation counters fear of judgement

• Developing self-compassion: Be nice to yourself FFS. Pretend you are your own bestie, which really you are because you are who you spend ALL of your time with.
• Focusing on intrinsic motivation: Do things for your own growth, not for other people’s approval. Who cares what other people think? F*ck ‘em! Play with “people-displeasing” by taking a deep breath and saying no to something you want to say no to.
• Starting small and safe: Build confidence in supportive environments before public exposure. Round up some trusted buddies and share what you’re working on (or get yourself a coach who’s gonna be a guaranteed cheerleader!)

Self-doubt

Origin: Often linked to negative self-talk, comparing oneself to others, or lack of confidence in abilities.

How experimentation counters self-doubt

• Focusing on progress: See improvements over time, not just current limitations. Make yourself a Win Board. It’s like a Vision Board but with all your existing achievements. It’s visual evidence of everything (size is not important) you’ve already achieved.
• Celebrating strengths: Recognise and build upon existing skills and talents. [See Fear or failure: Celebrating small wins) and take steps to make yourself 1% better at one of your skills.
• Learning from others: Observe successful individuals and adopt their positive practices. See their success as evidence it’s possible for you. Play with this mantra and repeat 3 times a day for 30 days and really feel it: “If they can do it so can I.”

Small shifts lead to big changes

By incorporating these practices and embracing the power of small experiments (with fancy celebrations!), you'll be well on your way to unlocking the full potential of the experimental mindset.

Final thoughts

• Start small: You don't have to overhaul your life overnight. Kick things off with something fun and low stakes celebrate the wins. Experiment with a new project, take a different route to work or pick up a hobby you've never considered before.
• Reflect on the outcomes: After each experiment, take a moment to reflect. What did you learn? What surprised you? How can you apply these insights moving forward?
• Embrace the unknown: Get comfortable with not having all the answers. The beauty of experimenting is in discovering them along the way. Try out different perspectives and points of view and let your curiosity guide you.
• Share your experiences: Talk about what you're trying and learning with friends, family, or even on social media. You'll inspire others to embrace this mindset too.
• Get a support system: Being able to share your experiences with a community, friends, or even a coach (if you want to fast-track the big experiment that is your life). Adopting an experimental mindset isn't just about personal development; it's a whole new way to experience the world. It's about living life in a state of playful exploration, where every day brings a chance to learn, grow, and expand your horizons. It’s a step towards the Ultimate version of you.

So, what's one playful experiment you can try that might just shift your perspective and open up a world of new possibilities?

If you’d like ideas of experiments weekly in your inbox I’ve got you. Subscribe to my stealth-coaching non-newsletter newsletter: 🍹The Experimentalist [see the sub form below]

And if you would like support from a coach who is all in on conscious experiments and subconscious rewiring to help you reinvent yourself as Ultimate You then let’s talk! 

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