The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Do you give your ideas and efforts enough time to take root?
When you’re young, single, and on the dating scene, one of the great thrills is meeting someone new. Turning your thoughts and attention to building the relationship, breaking down the “acquaintance-barriers” to unearth emotional and physical intimacy that proves you have what it takes to be special for this new potential soul-mate.
The same thing happens with ideas, research, projects, even whole businesses. The common thread is the excitement of transforming a raw hunch into a rewarding proof-of-concept.
So it’s no surprise that most over-achievers get addicted to this feeling and are wooed by the next nascent idea waiting to be developed, by the next intriguing hottie who pops into the picture. The grass is always greener…
Patience is a virtue.
Look around at all the most emotionally satisfied people you know. It’s unlikely they’ve built that satisfaction on the back of flitting from one relationship to the next. None of them will tell you that the work it took to cultivate the deep roots of an amazing long-term partnership had nearly the same adrenaline rush as that first-kiss moment. The 30 years spent building a great marriage is a wholly different pursuit than the 30 minutes spent wooing a first date. But these lucky satisfied people will defend the outcome of all that thoughtful effort as the most rewarding thing in their lives.
Similarly, the artist, businessman, or scholar who has devoted their life to an intense and focused pursuit of a single style, company, or study has transcended the siren-song of those new hunches, which at some point start to look like juvenile distractions that might be worth dinner and a few drinks, but not worth risking the fidelity of their life-work in exchange.
Variety is the spice of life.
Both styles are necessary. Without wandering the pastures, who can be expected to find their calling? But when the calling comes, give it the patience it deserves.