Interests are not triggered by introspection 

“…interests are not discovered through introspection. Instead, interests are triggered by interactions with the outside world. The process of interest discovery can be messy, serendipitous, and inefficient. This is because you can’t really predict with certainty what will capture your attention and what won’t…Without experimenting, you can’t figure out which interests will stick, and which won’t.”

These are wise words from Angela Duckworth, author of Grit. If you haven’t seen her Ted Talk, it’s worth a listen. 

I’ve written previously about her book. In addition to grit, she digs around the topic because you need to start with interests and areas of focus in order to stick with it. Interests are developed by following curiosity. By experimenting, trying things and seeing what strikes a cord. 

You’ve got to get out there and get a little dirty in order to get gritty. What are you digging around in?