I worry that if I continue to pursue my passions wherever they may lead I'll never achieve anything of worth. My work is steady and relatively free of distractions, but it's rare that any research program can hold my attention for say a month. I know expertise takes years to cultivate, but even in the domain of my degree (a subject no one knows fully) I feel I'm barely able to hold everything together. And yet most with their blinders find themselves blinded; what great things have been lost to this?
I worry that if I continue to pursue my passions wherever they may lead I'll never achieve anything of worth
What did you mean by this? Do you believe that you'll achieve something of worth by willfully choosing to cease activity after one month of effort?
>>2
Exactly the opposite which is one half of my dilemma; although, I wouldn't say it's willful.
>>3
It is precisely your will to cease activity in your projects after one month of activity into the project. It's perfectly okay to collect and collate a range ideas for future consideration. It is your complete choice to decide that your new idea should have your attention and that your older idea should languish in an archive somewhere. It seems that this is a pattern that you've established in your life. Now the question is: is it your will to change this pattern such that you can initiate a project and devote yourself to that idea until "completion"?
Everybody develops patterns in our own lives. It is our own responsibility to reflect on ourselves and decide if these patterns should change today, or should we continue these patterns until our death. When we decide to change, then we need to be brutally honest about what is the pattern, then we need to be honest about what is needed to move into a better pattern.
>>4
I suppose I knew this, but it's nice to hear. I now see two questions: the first and more significant is: how does one maintain passion and industry for something in particular? The second perhaps relatedly is: how much of my time should be dedicated to developing this expertise? These questions are adjacent to my current research program, so I may be able to come to an insightful conclusion soon.
>>5 That is I suppose I knew this at some level.
Just take it day by day champ.
What kind of research program are we talking about here?
>>8
For the last week and a half I've been learning everything I can about instrumental rationality.
>>9
You have probably realized that "instrumental rationality" is bullshit but still try to rationalize your research project as something worth continuing due to the sunk-cost fallacy.
>>10
I understand what you're trying to do, and I do appreciate it, but this statement is somewhat absurd to me. Sunk-cost after a week and a half? Techniques to improve your ability to achieve your goals are necessarily bullshit?
how much of my time should be dedicated to developing this expertise?
Apparently the correct answer to this question is two to four hours a day with some amount of breaks between sessions. More is better here, but even the best deliberately practice fewer than four hours a day due to greater amounts decreasing motivation. As one might imagine the way we practice is significant, and I have some tips with respect to this as well.
how does one maintain passion and industry for something in particular?
The solution to the first question is likely part of the answer to the second as I typically work more than four hours a day on a topic when I dedicate myself to it. I also have learned several techniques nearly of relevance to this point. Nothing to really address the things in its self.
More is better here, but even the best deliberately practice fewer than four hours a day due to greater amounts decreasing motivation.
If anyone has access to a cross-discipline review on this subject I would greatly appreciate a pointer to it. I'm going to log off for perhaps two weeks and will check back when I return. Cheers.
>>12
It's certainly not been two weeks, but oh well. So far as I can tell the four hour rule has more to do with general working conditions than anything particular about deliberate practice. I now realize that at least for me the question of how to maintain passion is more of an existential question than a question of rationality.
Historically dilettantes have developed, in fact it used to be the pattern of most before the 19th century. The harm seems not so much in having several interests so much as abandoning one interest for another. In reality to excel requires consistent dedication to the craft, whatever that may be.
I dabble in everything.......