Today, I want to delve into the topics of boredom, mastery, and finding joy. Years ago, when I started giving talks, they were quite similar to each other. My knowledge was limited, and repeating the same material became monotonous. Fortunately, I met an actor who had valuable insights on this issue. He performed the same act repeatedly but managed to keep it fresh. Curious, I asked him how he avoided boredom.
He shared a crucial strategy: he operated on two levels. On one level, he followed the script as required. On another level, he introduced subtle variations—standing differently or pausing longer—to keep himself engaged. These small changes kept him interested and attentive to his fellow actors' reactions, though the audience remained unaware of these nuances.
Inspired by this approach, I adopted it in my lectures. I began experimenting with different examples for the same principle, adding jokes at various points, and referencing earlier parts of my talk to see what worked best. This experimentation has significantly enhanced my enjoyment of lecturing over the years.
This led me to ponder a broader application of this concept. We often tell people that certain activities—like eating vegetables, exercising, or taking medication—are unpleasant but necessary for life. However, this approach hasn't been very effective in motivating people.
So, I decided to explore how professionals in other fields find joy in repetitive tasks. I spoke with professional pianists and runners. The pianists shared that they experiment with tiny variations within their structured routines. These small freedoms keep them engaged and motivated.
Runners added another layer to this idea. They not only experiment but also try to synchronize different aspects of their activity. One runner mentioned coordinating his footfalls with his breathing as a game to stay engaged.
These insights hold great promise for transforming mundane tasks into enjoyable activities. Just as actors change nuances in their performances and runners coordinate their movements, we can apply similar strategies to everyday tasks like making a salad or exercising.
While it may take time to reach the level of professional athletes in noticing details, we can start small by paying more attention to our actions and creating variations. This could be a promising area for future research and personal growth.
In conclusion, injecting joy into necessary but joyless activities through learning, experimentation, and coordination is possible. Stay tuned for further updates as I continue exploring this concept and gather evidence on its effectiveness.
