Increasing Your Surface Area: Why Openness and Novelty Can Create More Opportunities (As Featured in Real Simple)

I recently had the opportunity to be featured in Real Simple discussing the concept of "increasing your surface area" and how embracing novelty can expand opportunities, deepen presence, and create more moments that feel serendipitous.

You can read the full feature here.

Below are my thoughts on why increasing your surface area matters and how you can begin incorporating more novelty into your own life.

Is "Luck" Even the Right Word?

It’s not really “luck”, but, as humans, we tend to create meaning out of our experiences, and so that’s why there may be a natural inclination to feel like you’re luckier when you expand your exposure to possibilities.

Through “increasing your surface area,” you’re more likely to experience novelty, which in certain cases can evoke feelings of serendipity. As humans, we are incredibly impacted by our environment and surroundings, and when we cultivate a practice of novelty-seeking, we introduce an almost childlike sense of playfulness—a way of going about the world with the capacity to absorb new experiences, rather than impose our preconceived beliefs and fears onto situations.

Also, when you enrich your life with new encounters and experiences, your sense of awareness and presence heightens, making you more apt to welcome in something that you may consider lucky.

What Does the Research Say?

The Big Five personality trait model identifies ‘Openness’ as one of the five major dimensions of personality. Openness is often associated with creativity, adaptability, and curiosity, which are traits that can propel a person to lean into more opportunities and connections.

In order to be open and venture into the unfamiliar, one needs to have a secure base— a feeling that they can go out into the world and feel equipped to navigate it successfully. Consistently nurturing the practice of being open to expanding your world diminishes the fear that usually inhibits people from taking risks. The experience of stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing novelty reinforces the self-confidence and self-trust needed to shape your identity and self-appraisal as someone who is competent and capable of stepping outside of routine and into the unknown.

In addition, according to sociologist Mark Granovetter’s famous “strength of weak ties” theory, the more we expose ourselves to new environments and people, the more we increase our chances of making the casual connections that will potentially provide us with opportunities.

Why Does Novelty Matter?

Embracing novelty adds a layer of presence to your life. You transition from the experience of existing to the dynamic of living.

Our brains love to go on autopilot—it requires far less energy and executive functioning, but when we exist on autopilot, our brains operate in a way that filters out what is considered to be irrelevant information. That irrelevant information may actually be the opportunity or experience someone would consider to be lucky, but the brain just doesn't view it as important.

It’s similar to the idea that when we travel, we are more present because we are essentially forced to be, since everything around us is unfamiliar. You begin to become more aware of smells, buildings, and paths in order to get to your destination, rather than the experience of getting in your car and simply arriving at your destination without remembering how you got there.

How Can You Start Increasing Your Surface Area?

Start small and lean into what calls you!

Take a different route home, try a new coffee shop, strike up a conversation with somebody you normally wouldn’t talk to, pick up a new hobby you've always been scared to try (not to master it, just for the sake of doing it).

Adding novelty to your life doesn’t have to involve grand adventures such as traveling to another country (although that will certainly introduce novel experiences!), it can be as simple as switching your usual reading format by choosing a physical book instead of an audiobook or rearranging some of your furniture at home.

Can You Have Too Much Novelty?

Routines are essential for mental health. If you’re constantly changing things up, that novelty will wear off, and you may become exhausted from the constant change and feel less grounded.

Novelty’s impact exists because of the contrast with the mundane and familiar. If we lack that duality, novelty’s impact will be less potent.

Also, when we try to manufacture serendipity, we are not actually being present, and we become more focused on the outcome rather than the process. That narrow focus on outcome can make us cling to what serendipity is "supposed to look like," which closes us off from recognizing it when it shows up.

The process is where the magic happens.

If you’re interested in learning how to challenge your narrative and create more opportunities in your life, my strengths-based humanistic approach may be a great fit for you! Reach out to schedule a free consultation call!

With gratitude,

Atalie Abramovici