Find a New Crowd

Everyone has a “thing.” You have a “thing” you have made central in your life. It is what you know the most about, what you care about most, and what you find most of your time gravitating towards. It could be a subject matter you are researching, a field of work you find yourself employed in, a hobby that makes your eyes sparkle and your smile widen when you talk about it—anything.

But, no matter how important your “thing” is, it is important to not box yourself into a silo with the “thing” as the only part of your life.

It is a good idea to try and hang out with a group of people without talking about “the thing” that you have made central to your life. You should seek out other people and act as if your “thing” does not exist. You should live in the moment of conversing about topics that are foreign to You. You should listen to learn and seek out these experiences. By not focusing on “your thing,” you are automatically focusing on what others have to say and are entrenched in the present moment.

If you are a computer programmer, you should try and hang out with a group of athletes. If you are an engineer, why not talk about your day with an English major? If you are an artist, why not grab a coffee with an accountant? By immersing yourself into new crowds of people who come from different backgrounds and interests than you do, you can increase the perspectives and outside stimuli you receive on an exponential level.

These perspectives provide you with an outlet from your life constantly revolving around your “thing.” They also offer a glimpse into the worlds of people around you who live completely different lives than you.

Everyone has individual interests, passions, and goals and it is important on a human level to seek out their stories to see the world from their eyes. These breaks from your “thing” offer you a chance to not only make new connections but also give your mind a chance to reset from the very “thing” that is central to your life. At the same time, if you are currently struggling with an aspect of our “thing” whether it be an unsolvable problem, a difficult colleague interaction, or anything else, hearing how other people lead their own lives could cause individual “ah ha” moments to go off in your mind.

Humans are a tribal species that seek out those who are similar to each other. By going against the grain and seeking out those differences, you actually prime yourself for better performance in your field. Your “thing” does not need to be the only “thing” you learn or talk about. You can be multifaceted with multiple depths of interest. By finding and interacting with those who are different than you, with their own “things,” you are better able to attack your “thing” with an increased sense of purpose. By finding new crowds, you will be better prepared to return to your “thing.”