5 Mental Health Benefits of a New Interest |
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Amy isn't stuck in a rut or feeling stagnant.
Her career and personal life provide challenge and novelty. Her exercise routine, favorite shows, and a moderate dose of daily scrolling offer ways of unwinding that feel effective to her. She's not on a self-optimization quest.
Since she feels relatively satisfied and busy, she's not particularly drawn to exploring new hobbies or interests. The point of that isn't entirely clear to her.
Whether you're 20 or 50, this article is for people who feel similar to Amy. Like her, you aren't on a relentless optimization quest. And, you aren't underchallenged or lonely. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of new interests for someone who is in this spot in their life.
New Interests Expose Us to Things We Are Shielded From by Competence and Success
While vulnerability is often positioned as a necessary evil when trying new things, it can actually be a benefit.
1. A New Interest Is a Time of Rapid Growth
Someone who takes up running, rock climbing, pottery, community theater (or virtually anything else) is going to make more progress in their first month than at any other time.
Rapid growth feels good. We can feel like we're a seed breaking out of its shell.
The difference between the first and the third pottery mug you make will be much greater than between the 21st and........