Welcome to an archive of my 2016/2017 course (originally published on Teachable here), introducing what was once called Curious Experiments with the Semi-Scientific Method – where I taught students to use curiosity as their guide, think like a scientist, and choose their first experiment, set the duration, observe, and begin again after adjusting the variables.

This piece is from the script for video three, where we get into what it looks like to think like a scientist. Please enjoy my early efforts! See the first installment here: Trust Yourself and the second installment here: Life’s Purpose

Now let’s delve into the power of choosing what perspective we see challenges from, and get to brainstorming our next life experiment. What does it mean to think like a scientist?

Choose fun & curiosity over fear.

When you choose to see life as an experiment, your perspective changes from having set expectations and rigid definitions of success to a lens of discovery and interest where you’re excited to find out what’s possible.

Instead of feeling afraid of what might happen – choose to focus on the positive things that could happen.

Better yet – start doing whatever your brain’s been tossin’ around and you won’t have to imagine the outcomes – you’ll be learning and enjoying by bringing your thoughts into action – or going from passive to active.

Thinking of life as a series of experiments, where we aren’t sure of the outcome, and that’s Ok, relieves some of the pressure of “getting things right.”

Connecting to your loving center is the biggest achievement possible.

Back up from your projects and interests. Take a look at life from the perspective of your higher goals. Isn’t your real goal related to taking in all life has to offer, to give and receive love, to connect with other energies, or with your deeper purpose?

You are constantly being presented with the opportunity to fulfill those goals, with each decision, with each encounter, you can choose loving over fear. There’s no failing at this either, because each flex of your heart muscle makes you stronger.

Remember your higher goals, and feel the satisfaction of knowing you can always set out to live your values and achieve life goals, even when your project-oriented goals might not turn out like you imagined. Stay curious, enjoy the journey, and keep your eyes open for gifts in disguise.

QUESTION:

Here’s another question I want you let go through you:

How would it feel to try things out without the pressure of getting things right or being perfect?

Start where you are with what you have & take action.

After studying theatre arts in school, Amanda Palmer started her career as a street busker. She created a silent statue character called the 8-foot-tall bride. She knew what she loved doing, and put herself out there in a way that didn’t require many resources beyond her own talent and skills and the courage to be vulnerable.

Amanda kept following her inspiration, making new connections with other artists, and eventually evolved into who she is today, and she’ll keep evolving. This is a great example of starting where you are with what you have and taking action.

Release your expectations of who you should be, what you should do, or what might come of your actions, and relax into actually being and doing.

Notice the difference between how it feels to be in the passive state of “thinking about doing something” and the active state of actually doing the thing. What are you thinking about during both of those states of being? How do they feel? Where do you feel compelled to keep moving and where do you feel stuck in molasses?

It’s fine to start off generally, with the basics, and become a master of the fine arts later.

Let’s say you want to build a business – think about what you already know how to do.

• What skills and interests do you have?
• What tools you possess?
• What resources can you tap into?

Start there. Don’t look at those folks who are beyond where you’re at and think you have to start where they are. Nope, that’s not where they started.

Stop comparing, and start creating.

Do you really want to keep telling yourself you’ll be ready after you’ve taken one more class or lost 5 more pounds? No way, babe. I wanna see what you got right now.

You can take the class too, but it’s not a substitute for getting yourself out there and testing the waters. Wherever you’re at, you can take action. Soon, you’ll be 10x further than when you started, and starting with what you have will look totally different at that point.

Drop your walls and get vulnerable here. Show me that messy good stuff – that beauty and brilliance you’ve been hiding away. I see you.

Consider what cycle of life you’re in right now.

If you’re in breakdown and healing mode, you’ll choose a different topic than if you’re in a more energetic mode. Being productive can mean many things. I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety since I was a child. There are weeks at a time when I just can’t put myself out there in the world. I have systems in place for when I require periods of regeneration and healing.

Health and well-being is always a top priority. I’m a top priority. Without me, this train ain’t going nowhere.

Even when we’re not tending to a big to-do list, we’re being productive. Emotional work is real work. Caring for ourselves and our families is real work. Being productive might mean healing; you might be in a cocoon. Being productive can look like being there for a friend. Our world wouldn’t exist without these types of labor.

Honor where you’re at in life. If you already have a full plate of projects, you may want to choose a less time-consuming topic to experiment with this time, or choose something you’re already working on. Use this process to bring it into focus and examine it from a new perspective.

We have a tendency to view work as activities we’re paid for, but anything that takes focus, time, and energy is work. Acknowledge all the work you do every day – even when the pay is personal growth, healing, or love, instead of money. The more you honor all parts and pieces of you, the more energy you have to put into the world.

Wherever you’re at is just right!

One of the MOST important things about feeling confident and moving forward is radical acceptance. Accepting who you are, where you are, and the challenges you have, and just leaning in – not resisting it. Radically accepting what exists and wrapping it all in a blanket of compassion.

Don’t feel bad if you’ve been hard on yourself – it’s human to be self-critical. Everything you’ve been experiencing, and will experience, it’s all human. You’re never alone.

Transform thought into action.

See what’s possible. What happens when you take actions on your thoughts and dreams will far exceed anything you could imagine.

Are you excited? GET EXCITED! There’s so much possibility.

Brainstorm Preparation

This is where some of us get caught up. How do we know what we should do next?

What’s most important?

What will I enjoy?

What will bring me the results I’m looking for?

The answer to all of these questions is try it and see. It’s your life – you’re blazing your own path here. You can learn from others’ stories of how they did it, you can study the greats and absorb a breadth of knowledge about your interests, but to really push through to the next level of being requires you to live and take risks.

I want you to brainstorm a list of things you might want to do as an experiment right now. It could be a personal development project you’ve been thinking about, maybe you want to cultivate a state of compassion or non-judgment.

If you’re not sure where you want to start – I’ve created a list of inquiries to help you find clarity on what you want and where you’re at. Self-inquiry is a habit that requires tending. It’s the best way to reveal what makes us tick.

Use these questions anytime you want to reset your priorities.

• What are you current priorities in life/love/work?
• What are your biggest challenges?
• What do you feel is holding you back?
• What are you curious about?
• How is your energy?
• What could you do to increase your energy?
• What’s on your plate right now? Include emotional labor and caregiving. What can you give up to make room for what you want?
• What do you want?

Your list might be full of big, bold choices. Maybe you already have a plate full of courageous things you’re doing, and you chose to do something easy and light like I did. Either way – you’re getting in touch with your own needs and desires. You’re making the choice to do what’s best for you.

Let’s take a look at the example worksheet I filled out for you.

Step 8. Choose your first experiment!

Now look at your brainstorm list of topics and choose 3-4 you might want to experiment with right now.

Don’t let this step hold you back. You can always choose another thing to explore after you give this topic a whirl for whatever specified period of time you choose. Choose quickly and flow on.

Take the topics you have remaining and put them in a list in order of priority. Take these topics and put them in order of priority. Think about what your goal is here. Do you want more fun in your life, are you expanding your business, developing new habits or characteristics.

ACTION RECAP

We brainstormed a list of options for a life experiment, narrowed it down, prioritized the list, and chose one topic to focus on for a specified period of time.

CONGRATULATIONS!! How do you feel?

You’ve completed this minicourse now. How does it feel? Are you excited to move forward with your experiment? Do you feel more confident, more at ease in your own skin? I’d love to know how you’re feeling and what you’ll be doing next.

If you’d like access to the full framework for

Life Experiments with the Semi-Scientific Method,

subscribe to my Substack below, or visit TruthBeautyMeaning.com.