When We Do Something Interesting

I recently listened to a podcast by Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, called “Re: Thinking”. The podcast episode was titled, “How Yo-Yo Ma Sustains His Creative Energy”. Listening to Adam Grant interview Yo-Yo Ma and hearing Yo-Yo Ma speak about his journey in his career, his encounter with burnout, and how he sustains his energy was very enlightening. To hear the perspective of a child prodigy and a once-in-a-generation cellist and musician really highlighted the idea that how, at the end of the day, we are all just human.

He discussed his own contemplations about the need for validation and being thought of as special as a young person to his stage of burnout to his continued performances and what gives him meaning and inspiration. The discussion showcased his insightfulness, showed his humble character, and presented bits of wisdom worth listening to. The statement that really resonated with me was, “When we do something interesting, we create more energy.”

Breaking the statement down, “something interesting” as the source of “more energy” is very profound and yet very simple. But, what is “something interesting”? The short answer is anything and everything. It really depends upon the person…what they enjoy doing, what they find intellectually stimulating, what gives them a sense of accomplishment, or anything else within themself that they find of value and generates positive feelings.

It is what we value within ourselves and what gives us the positive feelings that support our efforts. When we tap into this, it gives us “more energy”. That energy may be interpreted, at face value, as literal energy or power to pursue the area of interest and continue to do “something interesting”. In another sense, the energy can be interpreted as fervor, enthusiasm, inspiration, or motivation to pursue the area of interest and continue to do “something interesting”. Either way, the result is a cycle of doing something that we find interesting and has value to us which generates more energy to keep doing that “something interesting”. It is a fascinating perspective from someone with exceptional abilities who is doing the thing that interests him.

Nevertheless, it shows us that even those exceptional humans are still human, and they still need the motivation, inspiration, and energy to keep doing what they do. Without energy, motivation, or inspiration, a human cannot sustain activity and loses momentum. So, just doing “something” is not enough. Just doing “something” is just going through the motions. One needs the spark of “something interesting” to propel one into a cycle that perpetuates itself and sustains one’s creative energy.

What do you do that is "something interesting"?  Does it energize you?