Habits and Passion

A 9-to-5 work schedule -- or any work schedule, for that matter -- can leave one feeling drained, and as if there is no time in the day for oneself. Given that discomfort, it is no wonder, then, that many people slip into a comfortable routine that helps them manage their stress and fatigue. Let me be clear about what reads as a critical undertone in that last sentence: I don't think there is anything wrong with a comfortable routine, in and of itself. It is important to find balance, and if vegging out at the end of the day helps a person achieve that balance, well, Mazel Tov.

As I've mentioned, however, behavior exists on a continuum; and what begins as benign actions and routines can quickly become habits. Again, I don't think there's anything wrong with habits in and of themselves: we all have them, and many of them serve our well-being. The nature of habits, however, is that they are automatic; i.e., we don't have to think critically about them -- we just do them. And because they are automatic, and because we are all busy, the potential exists to coast along rather thoughtlessly for days, weeks, months, and even years at a time without taking a look at whether those habits still serve us.

The aforementioned habit or routine of comfort, then, can be problematic, especially if it persists at the expense of a person's sense of vitality and fulfillment. To wit, I worry about people who spend all day working in unsatisfying jobs, and all evening pursuing mindless activities that are designed to be comfortable and passive. I worry about this, because I believe we are designed to do more than that. We need to earn a living, to be sure, and not everyone is necessarily going to work in their dream job. But each and every one of us is creative. Each and every one of us has deep, even hidden, interests: things that captivate us, ignite our curiosity, energize us, and bring us to life.

My hope, then, is that we all find ways to integrate our creative interests into our routines. Such interests, passions, or whatever you want to call them, are the vitality of our souls. They make us human. They help us to connect with ourselves and others, and to live fulfilling lives. So if this resonates with you, maybe take a critical look at your comfort zones, and give yourself a few minutes of your routine to fan the flames of your interests. This is your life -- go out and live it.