1. Expect mundanity. Paradoxically, expecting it to be mundane, makes it less so. In contrast, expecting it to be novel each time, is one reason why we experience it as mundane. We want to go from one high to the next. Of course it never lives up to our expectations.
2. Re-engage at a deeper level. After the beginner’s high with anything, invariably we hit a fork: one leads to cynicism while the other leads to new levels of engagement. Expecting this to happen helps navigate it.
3. Create meaning and purpose. If each step or activity is given a meaning and purpose then suddenly the mundane doesn’t seem to be so. The mistake is to look for inherent meaning. Most of the time there isn’t. We have to give it meaning however profound or banal the activity.
4. Engagement is often a decision rather than a natural reaction or response. Engaging with something more intensely often makes it interesting and vice versa.
5. Keats coined the term "negative capability" back in 1826. It's applicable now more than ever.
Not in the same context but I have written about these in the context of performance:
Comments
This is more like notes to myself:
1. Expect mundanity. Paradoxically, expecting it to be mundane, makes it less so. In contrast, expecting it to be novel each time, is one reason why we experience it as mundane. We want to go from one high to the next. Of course it never lives up to our expectations.
2. Re-engage at a deeper level. After the beginner’s high with anything, invariably we hit a fork: one leads to cynicism while the other leads to new levels of engagement. Expecting this to happen helps navigate it.
3. Create meaning and purpose. If each step or activity is given a meaning and purpose then suddenly the mundane doesn’t seem to be so. The mistake is to look for inherent meaning. Most of the time there isn’t. We have to give it meaning however profound or banal the activity.
4. Engagement is often a decision rather than a natural reaction or response. Engaging with something more intensely often makes it interesting and vice versa.
5. Keats coined the term "negative capability" back in 1826. It's applicable now more than ever.
Not in the same context but I have written about these in the context of performance:
* On mastery and mundanity: [https://www.leadingsapiens.com/greatness-as-mastering-the-mu...] On cynicism and re-engagement: [https://www.leadingsapiens.com/naivete-in-leadership/] On approaching it as a decision: [https://www.leadingsapiens.com/leadership-and-creativity-as-...] * Keats and negative capability: https://www.leadingsapiens.com/developing-negative-capabilit...
I wear a different shirt.
So nothing wrong with the same shirt every Monday, or something like that.
That's what I do with the time I don't spend focusing on my wardrobe.