Your interests have seasons

When you look at your interests, do you find that about six things come and go?

There may be months, years, or decades between being interested in them, but they keep bubbling up.

Your interests, including your professional ones, have seasons. 

One or two of them may be very interesting to you right now. However, that may change in a few months.

Changing interests is not a problem.

It can feel like a problem if you allow interests to rule your career. Interests are not steady enough to play a stable role. Interests are there to build curiosity, play, and dedication to the craft. They help make things interesting.

Interests are not your brand.

Interests can add flavour to your brand but differ from what you are. The skills and way you work are something you bring to each interest.

Fluctuating Interests

Here are my interests and the years I was really into them.

You may notice that I get into things for a few years, turn away, and then return to them a few years later. My only consistent interest has been writing.

Is this the same for you?

Again, this is not a problem as long as you have something else in your career that gives you stability, so you aren’t jumping all the time or feeling unstable often. You can also choose work that allows you to bring in new interests and drop old ones.

Steadying Your Career

My best jobs have been ones that allow expansions and contractions of interests.

As a freelance drama instructor, I would weave new interests into my classes. It’s the same with coaching work. If I get into journaling or mindfulness theory, I add it to my offerings and work them into conversations.

The consistent thing is the way I work. No matter what job, I consistently do three things:

1. Helping others, usually by listening and advising

2. Teaching, sharing, or facilitating new learning

3. Being present and open, which often shows up as delight in me or others

 I can depend on the three things above. Whether I am into drama, meditation, coaching, thrifting, or any other interests, I always bring my helpfulness, teacher-side, and presentness.

I found my three things by doing the career cards exercise. (The course is free for paid subscribers).

Next week, I’ll share some embodiment exercises if you’re wondering how to move from knowing your three things to showing your three items. In the meantime, you could

1. Figure out your three things.

2. Make a list of all your interests. Then, reflect on the years you were into those subjects—notice which ones keep returning. Finally, leaning into that interests can add valuable variety and depth to our lives, but you are more than your interests.

Which six or so interests rotate in your career?