After hoping to write somewhat daily, I find myself almost two months out from my last post (which was actually mostly written months before that). The reason? It is definitely not a lack for topics or events, as this has been some of my most eventful months. Rather, it has been for lack of interest.
Interest Compounds
Regardless of the interest being positive or negative, it has a way of growing exponentially over time. I have known this to be true in the sense of money and numbers; however, I am learning this to be true elsewhere as well.
When I write often, I think of writing, and then writing is fueled.
When I pray often, I think of God, and prayer is fueled.
So right now, rather than financial interest, I am speaking primarily of habits. With higher interest in a particular area, you will find the habits are strong. As interest lowers, habits have to be forced or else they will disappear.
The Effect of Unexpected Events on Interest
There are way better writers to tell you about habits, but I will add this.
Unexpected events create a loss of interest.
Whatever momentum I had in my writing efforts were derailed by crazy life events!
- Seeking a new community that suits our family
- Applying for a new job
- Driving across the country to interview
- Putting a contingent offer on a house (if I get the job)
- Packing up the apartment on a hunch
- Getting the job
- Leaving my old job
- Finalizing move, and moving
- Staying with family
- Staying in new town
- Starting new job
- Staying with a coworker
- Closing on a house
- Settling in a new house
- Settling in a new town with new community and friendships
So now we feel the way transplanted plants must feel… we have more room to breathe and we are very grateful for the move, but wow! It has been a journey to be uprooted and placed in new soil!
With all of these changes of scenery – and living out of boxes didn’t help – my habits were no longer existent. Even waking up in the morning takes thought when you are relocating. Every single belonging is in a new location, which means a lot of “Where is…?” or “Have you seen…?”.
With no habits existing, there is less ability to compound habits, or “habit stacking“, as I recently heard it put. Similar to compounding interest, what you put in at the beginning, is what makes the biggest difference.
Re-Investing to Gain Interest
Although my interest in writing was lowered and my habits were broken, it was not negative. For a bit I wondered if I had lost interest because I have a renewed interest at work and in the community, but I don’t think that is true. Just everything being new, I need to re-invest.
Here it is. Here is some capital in the form of thoughts.
Hopefully, they gain interest and grow into regular habits of expressing and working through the events listed above – not to mention the events of the world as well!