The more likely we genuinely enjoy something or are interested in it, the more likely we are to do it.

Why Enjoyment Drives Action

We have an invested interest in it, skin in the game, which drives us to show up even when we don’t feel like it.

This can be impactful, especially when starting any new habit or goal.

Take reading…

A popular habit within the personal growth space that’s encouraged, and maybe for good reason too, but if we don’t enjoy reading, or are choosing books that we genuinely don’t have an interest in, then starting, let alone maintaining, this habit is going to be increasingly difficult.

I know this because it’s an example from my own life (at the time of writing). I used to be an avid reader, but lost the habit.

That was until I picked it up again, because I’m genuinely interested in the book I’m reading.

But What About Things We Don’t Enjoy?

Now, before we continue, there are, of course, many habits and behaviours that we don’t like to do or have an interest in, but are required for our health, well-being, and personal growth.

Take exercise, movement, and any type of physical activity.

Some people love it, some hate it. Some people feel indifferent about it.

But either way, there is no argument that it’s vital for our health.

If we were only ever to do the things that we enjoy or have an interest in, then the majority of us would never go for a walk, let alone step inside a gym.

The Solution: Combine Enjoyment with Necessity

So what do we do?

The key is to combine what we know is good for us with what we find enjoyable or interesting to encourage us to show up and do the thing.

Practical Ways to Combine Habits

If we hate running but enjoy spending time with friends or family…

It could be a good idea to combine the two, and once or twice a week, go for a 30-minute jog with a friend.

The same goes for the gym, yoga, or simply taking a nice 30-minute stroll with a loved one after dinner every evening.

Why We Struggle to Follow Through

Point being:

If we don’t enjoy something or have “skin in the game”, then doing the thing, whatever the thing is, becomes increasingly challenging, and the majority of us just won’t do it despite our best intentions, goals, and plans, even if it’s good for us and will lead to better life outcomes.

We’re stubborn creatures that way.

A reason for this is that starting anything new is hard. We’re creatures of comfort, and forming new habits, behaviours, and pursuing new goals requires us to break our current patterns, which can be uncomfortable, to say the least. We’d rather stay in our current routine, our little bubble of what we know, rather than venture outside, despite, in most cases, sensing that it won’t only propel our personal growth, but also lead to better outcomes.

A Better Approach to Consistency

The approach I’m proposing, of combining what we have a genuine enjoyment of and are interested in with the areas of our lives we struggle to be consistent with, whether that’s exercise, nutrition, or career-related, helps us to make progress within these areas, because we’re showing up more often.

And we all have at least heard, if not know, that it’s consistency that makes the difference.

The more consistent we are, the greater the outcome.

Going for a run once in a blue moon when we “feel like it”, while a positive behaviour, just isn’t the same as going for a 30-minute jog once, twice, or three times per week, no matter what.

Through this approach, we don’t have to “suffer”, even if the thing is hard or challenges our capabilities, which is where growth happens, because we’ve combined it with something that we enjoy or find interesting.

I believe this to be incredibly valuable when starting any new habit or pursuing any new goal, especially those that we know will help us to grow, but we don’t initially enjoy or find interesting, actually, rather the opposite.

The Role of Self-Awareness and Exploration

It does require self-awareness for us to know what we enjoy and find interesting.

And for us to be open to self-exploration, the journey of trying new things, perhaps something a little different, outside of what we would typically gravitate towards.

These are both parts of the same journey we’re all on.

We’re all on the journey to discover the things we genuinely enjoy, while being open to finding hidden enjoyments, interests, and curiosities that we can combine with the areas of our lives we struggle to be consistent with.

While a few might pop into our minds, and we can start with these, the things we enjoy and are interested in today might not be the things we are interested in tomorrow, not actually tomorrow, but at some point in the future.

Interests Evolve Over Time

Let me put it this way…

We’re not the same person today as we were this time last year or three years ago.

Well, I know I’m not.

My interests have changed, even if it’s subtle.

And it’s these subtle shifts over time that we’re often oblivious to.

But by becoming aware of them, we can see just how much we have changed, and how what we may have enjoyed in the past might not be what we enjoy or find interesting today.

The opposite is true as well…

We may have passions, interests, and deep curiosities that we’ve let go of in the past for one reason or another, but actually, when we stop to reflect, we realise just how much we’re interested in it or enjoy it, and can start to pursue it in our lives again.

This is why not only self-awareness, but also self-exploration, are both key.

And who knows, it might be just the thing that, once combined with the habits, goals, and things that come a little bit more challenging to us, that we want to start because we know they’re good for us and we want to better ourselves (think: exercise), will help us stay on the right side of growth and be more consistent.

Conclusion

In summary:

If we genuinely enjoy or have an interest in a thing, whether that be a new habit, goal, practice, routine, or simply an action we want to take, we’re much more likely to do it.

For the areas of our lives where this isn’t the case…

Combining them with the things we do enjoy or have an interest in will greatly increase the likelihood of us showing up and doing the thing, whatever the thing is.

Think about the things that you enjoy, are interested in, or have a deep curiosity for, and how you can combine them with areas of your life where this isn’t the case, but you know that by becoming more consistent in them (maybe exercising regularly, establishing healthy sleep habits, etc.), they will not only better your life today, but lead to better, healthier long-term life outcomes.

This approach has been really valuable for me, and I’m confident it’ll be valuable and helpful for you, too. Try it.