Can't seem to keep a steady interest

[SupersecretIdentity]

One thing I have come to notice about myself is I don't seem to hold a steady interest/hobby for more than a few months anymore. I used to do soccer and gymnastics but quit them due to lack of interest once I started high school. I've also done skiing/snowboarding/diving/tons of other random activities but eventually quit.

I usually am very skilled in any area I get involved but for some reason I always seem to come across something new and then lose my attention for older pursuits. I rarely ever take any of them to a serious level of competing, but I'm not really quitting out of frustration either. It's more like I get distracted/bored and just move on. I feel like one of the major factors to this is I tend to really immerse myself in new activities, like it's the only thing I focus on for a while and jumps up to my #1 priority.

Now that I am getting involved in personal growth, I'm fearing that something else will catch my attention and I will stop being active in it, which I know would be a big mistake.

How do I keep from getting bored with activities I legitimately enjoy, and how can I make sure I don't abandon my own personal development?

[Trezker]

Just keep Steve's RSS feed so you get reminded now and then.

As for sports/hobbys. As long as you can keep it up for at least a month you can consider it 30 day trials. Perfect for personal development.
I think it's better to switch every few months than stick with something you're not enjoying. When you run out of options you are likely to go back to something you've tried before and maybe appreciate it more.

[Mags]

Have a look into Barbara Sher's work on scanners and Margaret Lobenstine's work on Renaissance souls - you sound like a classic example of these wonderful types of people!

See if it resonates with you - rather than fighting it, there are ways to work with these characteristics to create a successful life and see things through.

[DayInTheLife]

Originally Posted by SupersecretIdentity

How do I keep from getting bored with activities I legitimately enjoy, and how can I make sure I don't abandon my own personal development?

Learn to keep your attention on what you are doing.

Boredom happens when you are doing one thing, but thinking about something else. Whatever hobby or sport it is, honor the act itself by returning your attention to the task at hand whenever it wanders. As a rule, make the commitment to be fully 'there' whenever you engage in any activity.

This is high-quality action. People who perform this way are extraordinary human beings. The top athletes, businesspeople, musicians, artists in the world all operate with undivided attention on what they are doing. They reach levels of greatness others could never approach.

I'll say it again: honor the act itself. Whenever your mind wanders to something you are not doing right now, return your attention to what you are doing right now. Every time.

When you are doing something as a means to an end (like mindlessly practicing guitar for hours believing you will eventually be a rock star,) the work is not enjoyable and not very productive. You don't get much better at it and you probably aren't too excited to continue. You'll always be looking to something else (another hobby maybe) to find the fulfillment you are seeking. New activities are attractive because you still have this rush of fresh potential in your mind, before distraction and boredom take over.

Example: If you're playing soccer, but you're way more excited about trying out your new snowboard, return your attention to what is happening in that moment: the voices of your teammates, the breeze on your skin, the sensations in your body, the smell of the grass. Be there while you are there, no matter where you'd rather be. You can think about snowboarding as much as you want later; this is soccer time.

Make sense?

[Ak47]

This is a common problem for a lot of people i think. It seems to me from your post (though i'm not 100% sure) that you are young. This is a major factor. You simply are not old enough to have experienced enough things to know what you'd truly enjoy. Even if you did, you're young enough that it's very likely your personality, and thus interests, could change over time.

When you find something that is really meant for you, you'll know it. You'll feel it. Your "eudiamones" ("guiding angels"; greek; not necessarily religious) will tell you what you're meant to do. Variation: "listen to your inside voices;" "listen to your soul," etc etc. It sounds corny, but it is absolutely true. When this happens it will hit you like a brick. However, it does not happen to everyone, and really it takes a lot of effort to "find yourself," which this is a huge part of. Like i said though, people change. You could "find yourself" tomorrow, but you could change completely in 6 months. Some people never find themselves, it is a hard thing to do, but very, very rewarding.

[Ak47]

oh, and one more thing...

i can tell you right now.. it's highly, highly probable that the thing which you "enjoy" that you're "meant" to do is likely not physical, but mental. i would suggest looking for "activities of the mind that are infinate." (Epicurus) i.e. writing, music, puzzles, strategy, things which contain a potentially endless amount of different scenarios, or things that you can never really master (though you may become very good, or even the best at it).

"Things are "good" when they fulfill their purpose. Man's purpose is to reason (think)." (Aristotle).

[wills]

Hi - I haven't posted here in a long, long time, but this thread really strikes a nerve with me. I am also a 'scanner' - someone whose interest gets piqued, and I dabble, become quite good at some things, but then, all of a sudden... meh. Nothing.

it's not a crime, don't beat yourself up over it. Just do what comes naturally. The bigger challenge, of course, is finding a life path that you love and that pays you hard cold cash with which, in turn, you can feed and shelter yourself. Therein is the challenge for me.

As far as hobbies go - just go with it. Love what you are doing right now. That's all life asks of us, really.

[Patricia]

Originally Posted by Mags

Have a look into Barbara Sher's work on scanners and Margaret Lobenstine's work on Renaissance souls - you sound like a classic example of these wonderful types of people!

See if it resonates with you - rather than fighting it, there are ways to work with these characteristics to create a successful life and see things through.

I came to this thread to suggest the same thing. Only you can tell whether you're a Renaissance soul or not, but I think this is worth checking out.

When you're a Renaissance soul, hearing that you need persistence and focus doesn't mean much. The focus is on diversity itself. So if that's your case, embrace diversity and have fun! What "everyone else" seems to be doing or tell you is right, might not be what is right for you. But you're the one who needs to figure this out for yourself.

OR, as it's been said in this thread too, it might also be that you are young and searching, which is absolutely fine too.

There's no point in persisting in something that you no longer feel any connection towards.

[teacher]

I don't think it's boredom...I think you are a very smart cookie who needs constant challenge. Have you thought of going back to school? I am thinking that it's the end result you're after...a means to a goal that is tangible.

[Chap]

Originally Posted by SupersecretIdentity

One thing I have come to notice about myself is I don't seem to hold a steady interest/hobby for more than a few months anymore. I used to do soccer and gymnastics but quit them due to lack of interest once I started high school. I've also done skiing/snowboarding/diving/tons of other random activities but eventually quit.

I usually am very skilled in any area I get involved but for some reason I always seem to come across something new and then lose my attention for older pursuits. I rarely ever take any of them to a serious level of competing, but I'm not really quitting out of frustration either. It's more like I get distracted/bored and just move on. I feel like one of the major factors to this is I tend to really immerse myself in new activities, like it's the only thing I focus on for a while and jumps up to my #1 priority.

Now that I am getting involved in personal growth, I'm fearing that something else will catch my attention and I will stop being active in it, which I know would be a big mistake.

How do I keep from getting bored with activities I legitimately enjoy, and how can I make sure I don't abandon my own personal development?

I'll ignore the not-so-subtle bragging and get to the point. You have a plethora of opportunities, and are presently predictably preoccupied with what you're missing.

You can chose almost anything, like almost anyone, and enjoy success and lifelong dedication so long as you focus on development along that path. When you look to compete with the Jones' or see if you're missing out, this leads to doubt since you are tilting the balance against you.

Think why countries with a large wealth gap, and increased exposure to the trappings of material wealth have the larger crime rates.

[this is fun]

Originally Posted by SupersecretIdentity

One thing I have come to notice about myself is I don't seem to hold a steady interest/hobby for more than a few months anymore. I used to do soccer and gymnastics but quit them due to lack of interest once I started high school. I've also done skiing/snowboarding/diving/tons of other random activities but eventually quit.

If I understood you correctly you're still in high school, I think that's just the right time to try out many different interests.

Originally Posted by SupersecretIdentity

always seem to come across something new and then lose my attention for older pursuits. I rarely ever take any of them to a serious level of competing, but I'm not really quitting out of frustration either. It's more like I get distracted/bored and just move on.

I used to be like that, well, in some part still am. Something would catch my attention/interest very easily, but once I mastered the basics or grasped the main principle...it was ''oh, okay..is that it,now what''. At first it made me feel superficial, but now I enjoy that part of myself. There is always something interesting . I have however discovered some things that made me look ''deeper'' and I still enjoy doing them.

Originally Posted by SupersecretIdentity

Now that I am getting involved in personal growth, I'm fearing that something else will catch my attention and I will stop being active in it, which I know would be a big mistake.
How do I keep from getting bored with activities I legitimately enjoy, and how can I make sure I don't abandon my own personal development?

I'd say everything you do is a form of personal development or growth, it may not have a 'label' PD but you still improve your skills, knowledge etc.

[Dogs]

Originally Posted by SupersecretIdentity

One thing I have come to notice about myself is I don't seem to hold a steady interest/hobby for more than a few months anymore. I used to do soccer and gymnastics but quit them due to lack of interest once I started high school. I've also done skiing/snowboarding/diving/tons of other random activities but eventually quit.

I usually am very skilled in any area I get involved but for some reason I always seem to come across something new and then lose my attention for older pursuits. I rarely ever take any of them to a serious level of competing, but I'm not really quitting out of frustration either. It's more like I get distracted/bored and just move on. I feel like one of the major factors to this is I tend to really immerse myself in new activities, like it's the only thing I focus on for a while and jumps up to my #1 priority.

Now that I am getting involved in personal growth, I'm fearing that something else will catch my attention and I will stop being active in it, which I know would be a big mistake.

How do I keep from getting bored with activities I legitimately enjoy, and how can I make sure I don't abandon my own personal development?

You can't really abandon your own personal development.

I mean, that's kind of a static function there, you see..
One way or another, you're dying continuously until you're fully dead. This is personal development.

That in and of itself shouldn't be discouraging, but it should emphasize the importance you have on yourself.

What do you want to be able to say that will be 100% true before your run is up?

Stick with that one, because it will mean a great deal to anyone who looks up to you.


Me, specifically.. I had a hard time staying focused on one subject, too.. Everyone kept telling me, "Jon, you can't keep switching your interests all the time like you've done forever..."

"I dunno, I wanna be a machinist, I wanna be a cop, I wanna be a marine, I wanna be a programmer, I wanna be.. EVERYTHING!"

but then you start to break it down a little bit.. Machining is simple, learn to program. Being a cop is simple, learn to program. Being a marine is simple, learn to program. Being a programmer is simple, learn to program.

Programming IS everything.

[ricky]

It could be a whole bunch of things e.g.
-fear of failure
-fear of success
-or some other negative belief that prevents you from going all the way in anything and since you do this often enough, that belief keeps on getting reinforced e.g. "I can't seem to keep a steady interest"

OR you do not have a strong enough purpose in life yet. If you have a really strong purpose then every single you do is related to that purpose. You just do not feel like doing anything else. You may do other stuff for fun but every single moment you have you want to spend working on your life purpose.

If it's a limiting belief then you should work on it but if it's a lack of purpose in life then it's not bad since more activities you involve yourself in, more you're learning about yourself. But keep an intention to find your life purpose.
I don't think we're born with a purpose but I think that due to our circumstances certain things matter to us more than others. But there is one thing in every single person that means more than anything else and when you get hold of that you will no longer be scattering your interest or your time on anything else