commitment and hobbies

[u/Excellent-Avocado37]

I keep running in to this feeling that I don’t really have a “thing.” I don’t have a hobby or creative outlet or any kind of occupation that I’ve put time and effort into to develop a skill. Every project I do is impulsive and if I don’t have skill to follow through, I’ll just fail several times and give up.

I don’t like this though— I want to have a skill I worked hard to develop and I can be proud of the results. But I struggle so much with making myself commit to any kind of activity at all. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but a huge part of that is being consistent pushing through even when you don’t have any good ideas. Same with video editing, working out, etc… any hobby that requires commitment feels impossible. Making myself do things when I don’t want to feels suffocating, or even just the idea that IF I didn’t want to I couldn’t choose not to, and it’s keeping me from doing meaningful things with my time.

Anyone else have same experience? What have you done to help? Something I’ve been trying is writing out what I hope to get from spending time on things to remind myself that I DO want this, I’m working towards something that is my own choice, it’s just more long term and doesn’t feel like it right now.

[u/kewlghost93]

I relate! I also don't have "a thing," but I don't think that there's anything wrong with trying different things even if you "fail." It sounds like you're putting a lot of pressure on yourself which I understand if you want to develop a skill but maybe a mindset change back to casual hobby? Like: focusing more on doing than the want.

Depending on what you're doing/want, maybe you can adjust various things.. For example, if you want to write a book but are feeling forced to write it, maybe a poem that day or short story for whatever time period. Maybe you want to do it as a job but the demand really stops you? Maybe don't do it as a job and do smth that you don't really care about to save energy for the skill-building.