Start an Interest File. Get a folder or a box and put it someplace
where you'll see it regularly. Use your box or file to collect notes
about anything that gets your attention: articles, pictures or even random
thoughts about what really interests you in life. You don't have to be choosey
here. You're not wedded to anything you put in this file: the more you can
play with it, the better.
What looks like fun? What would be really interesting - even if you don't
know anything about it? What would you like to find out more about? What has
always fascinated you? Make a note; put it in the file.
Keep Your File at Least a Month. Longer is better. Don't look in it.
Just keep putting stuff in. If you are surprised by anything, particularly
delighted by something, or if something doesn't turn out the way you were
expecting - these are all clues to what you might find interesting. Put a note
in your file. Some of the best items are pictures that catch your eye. You
don't have to know why it's interesting; just ad it to the file.
Don't Try to Make Sense of It Right Away. Give yourself time. This
is one of the most important secrets of creativity. Just add to your interest
file; you don't have to explain it, justify it or make sense of it for now.
You want to get as wide a sampling as possible of everything that gets your
attention all day long. These will be directions in which you are actively
drawn, not just things that you have to do.
After a Few Weeks, Open Up your Interests File. This is where it
starts to be fun. Pull everything out that you have been collecting and spread
it out on the floor. Arrange it in piles. Sort out all the items into groups.
What interested you about that story? What was fascinating about this picture?
How are they related? If you don't get any real groupings, put it all back and
keep collecting for a few more weeks. Try again.
Name Your Groupings. Identify some categories for your interests.
You need a name for them, because it will help you focus on what you are
interested in. Make a list. Put it in order of things that interest you most,
if you want to.
Compare Your Interest Grouping with your most enjoyable Skills. Any
similarities? Any differences? What important skills would you definitely want
to use regularly in your life? What interests do you definitely want to enjoy
regularly in your life?
