A Field Guide to Experimenting With Life
Iterating with life. Photos by Quinn Corte, 2020-2025.
What if you stopped worrying about what’s next and just...started trying things?
I know, I know. This can feel scary at first. But hear me out.
I LOVE dreaming and scheming, but sometimes we get stuck in our brains, afraid to make a move. We might be waiting for "clarity" or "being ready" or "feeling brave"—all things that may (conveniently) never come. I believe experimentation is the key to lightening things up and providing a low-stakes way to take a turtle step forward.
Bold things happen when you stop committing and start experimenting:
You feel safer trying things because you aren't "committed"
You’re less bogged down in worry and insecurity because nothing is set in stone
Your inner perfectionist relaxes because you’re “just trying something”
It’s easier to make decisions because you can always tweak things later
When things go wrong, it's helpful information instead of a failure
Other people back off a bit, which relieves the pressure
Your endeavor gets lighter and more fun, so you actually want to show up
Want to try it?
The key is this: try something you're curious about. Look for a little spark in your energy, a little voice that's been whispering in your ear, something you can't stop thinking about.
If you don’t know what to start experimenting with, I suggest getting out your journal or going for a walk to get your juices flowing.
Here are some helpful brainstorming prompts:
Things I’m curious about
What if I…?
Things I could try
Things I’m pondering lately
Possible experiments
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Okay, let's say you have an idea you want to experiment with. Now what?
I recently took an excellent class about creativity from Taylor Elyse Morrison, a fellow Wayfinder coach (watch the 30-min version here). She used to work in tech, which is a field that’s really good at iterating and exploring. In tech, when you’re developing a new idea, there aren’t failures—just lessons. My inner perfectionist scoffs at this, but it is possible, and it’s so damn liberating.
If you want to embark on a new experiment, here are some reflection questions and tips from both me and Taylor:
Why does this matter to you?
Keep coming back to your larger purpose when things get tricky.Who do you want to become through this experiment?
Visualize and embody the strength, boldness, ease, or confidence you hope to discover, and write down an intention for how you’d like to show up.What are you trying to learn or figure out?
Write a list of “research questions” to guide your experiment, instead of making a more traditional goal-setting plan.How can you lower the stakes?
Write down a hilarious exaggeration of the worst-case scenario going through your head to bring more levity into the process.What time and energy can you devote to this?
Reflect on your current capacity so you design an experiment that meets you where you are and ensures that you'll actually show up.When do you want to check in about your progress?
Set a nightly, weekly, or monthly checkpoint to celebrate wins, integrate lessons, and reflect on what needs adjusting.What’s your first step and when will you do it?
Name your first gentle turtle step and put it on your calendar so you actually do it.
Now, stop reflecting and go try things! Lightening up will help you discover what lights you up.