How is interest in an activity sustained over a long period?

[The Backward OX]

I have a lifetime history of starting something new* and then sooner or later losing interest in it. Might this be genetic and unfixable or is there a pill I can take?

*jobs, hobbies, relationships, study courses, you name it.

[Brutha]

By attaching your self identity to it.

What concrete activities did you try? Did you achieve flow in any of the activities?

[The Backward OX]

Originally Posted by Brutha

By attaching your self identity to it.

I don't know what that means.

What concrete activities did you try?

Read the last line of my post.

Did you achieve flow in any of the activities?

I don't know what that means.

[Brutha]

I don't know what that means.

That's a good answer that shows self awareness.

It's about feeling emotional attachment.
It's also about seeing yourself in a certain way.

Can you remember how you had an enjoyable experience in any of those actvities? If you remember that experience do you see the scene through your own eyes or do you see yourself inside the scene?

Read the last line of my post.

To me hobby is no concrete term. I was looking for something more specific.

Did you achieve flow in any of the activities?

Is the problem about the definition of the word flow or deeper?

[The Backward OX]

Originally Posted by Brutha

If you remember that experience do you see the scene through your own eyes or do you see yourself inside the scene?

The former.

Is the problem about the definition of the word flow?

Yes

[Clint Cora]

Hmm, this is interesting. I've been fortunate enough to have found a few activities a long time ago and still have a lot of fun doing them - these are true passions. In my mind, you might not have found your passions yet.

To me, true passions are activities that you will never give up (unless your body can't take it anymore). They are not just phases.

I would say, keep looking.

[Criseyde]

I do this too. Especially with projects (not so much relationships -- people are *fascinating* and they're always changing, so it keeps me very occupied!). You might be an Enneagram 7.

Since you are asking for pills, I hear that Ritalin and Adderall are good for this behavior.

If that was facetious, I haven't found a cure yet. But I think the cure is probably to find what makes you really happy and do that. It's FINDING it that's hard.

[Clint Cora]

The process of finding the activities need not be a chore. It can actually be a fun thing as one tries different things out. One just has to be a bit open minded. It's much like trying out different types of cuisine = not all dishes will taste good but the experience overall is still interesting.

[Merr]

Why is it a bad thing that you don't stick to anything? I don't stick to a lot of things and don't care. All that matters is that I enjoyed them at the time.

[christianyethboth]

I think having an emotional attachment to something that interests you and inspires you makes it become very long lasting.

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

I have a lifetime history of starting something new* and then
sooner or later losing interest in it.

Interest is held via inspirational & passionately FUN personal attachment.
With these qualities, & you will stay Interested ...

[Brutha]

The former.

That's good.

[The Backward OX]

Originally Posted by sk8joyful

Interest is held via inspirational & passionately FUN personal attachment.
With these qualities, & you will stay Interested ...

Well, duh. I knew that. But where are those qualities found?

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by sk8joyful
Interest is held via inspirational & passionately FUN personal attachment.
With these qualities, & you will stay Interested ...

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Well, duh. I knew that. But where are those qualities found?

They are found inside every human I have met, millions... to varying degrees of practice... & the more you practice these qualities... the more wholesome passionate fun you too will enjoy

[The Backward OX]

Originally Posted by christianyethboth

I think having an emotional attachment to something that interests you and inspires you makes it become very long lasting.

Yeah, probably.
I guess, if you're not a passionate, emotional type (I'm not), nothing will last, eh?

[DANDUNGAN]

The flat affect may last.

[irfan]

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

I have a lifetime history of starting something new* and then sooner or later losing interest in it. Might this be genetic and unfixable or is there a pill I can take?

So what's wrong with constantly taking new directions? Why is it a problem? Why do you want to take the pill, Neo?

"You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes."

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Yeah, probably.
I guess, if you're not a passionate, emotional type (I'm not), nothing will last, eh?

Nah. I'm not the very passionate, emotional type, but many of my interests are quite long-term.

When I was six, I became interested in creative writing. Took about 30 years, then I published my first book.

I first picked up a guitar about 17 years ago. The most recent time I picked up a guitar to play was today.

I played chess quite seriously (by that, I mean competitively) for about a decade.

I still enjoy swimming and gardening, which I liked a lot as a kid.

[homestudycoach]

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

I have a lifetime history of starting something new* and then sooner or later losing interest in it. Might this be genetic and unfixable or is there a pill I can take?

*jobs, hobbies, relationships, study courses, you name it.

According to the Human Givens school of therapy we are genetically pre programmed to lose interest in something once we have done it for a while. They reckon this is all about the survival of the species. We, they say, are problem solvers. Without a problem to solve we lose interest. Or maybe become depressed if life is without problems for us to solve. We need a challenge to feel alive.

May be they are right, I don't know. I read some Freud and he said that everything we do or say is a distraction from the awful truth. I always think about that when I hear or see people getting into a ruck with one another. Ah I think! They're bored.

[Lapka]

Perhaps you are just too easily discouraged. Focus on what motivates you and feed off of whatever it was that inspired you in the first place. Losing interest is normal, try not to fret it.