Enthusiasm vs. Expertise

In the last several years, I’ve stepped away from the notion of expertise and rested gloriously in the seat of enthusiasm. It’s a distinction that I cherish.

In the same way that I have relaxed and redefined notions around accomplishments in yoga, I have done the same around the whole of my life.

The shift came after observing kids playing. They started with a music jam, pulled out a Ouija board, waged war with nerf bats, snuggled their pet rats, read and drew, ate snacks, baked muffins and then repeated until they tuckered.

I watched with dizzying envy.

In the two hours of my physical stillness they cycled through several activities with flexibility and abandon. With each repetition, they refined their skills, interactions and engagement until they needed rest.

Adult life feels exactly the opposite. We are constantly niching, focusing, completing, tasking without any of the rowdy freedom of unstructured play. I decided to construct an experiment to see if I could replicate what those kids did.

I gave myself four hours with the following parameters:

• I could do anything I wanted for as long as I wanted but I had to shift gears if I got distracted or board.

• No screens

• No media

• No goals

What happened surprised me.

It was difficult at first, but when I fully committed, my subconscious could stay creative without resistance. I had to break my attachment to completion but like the kids, I was able to see my energy and skill level rise with each engagement. I ended up swiffering, writing 2 poems, half spazzing/half dancing my way through several songs, meditating, practicing some yoga, reading several parts of several books, and staring at clouds.

Ultimately, I didn’t get things done but I made tremendous progress. My soul appreciated the freedom and in exchange did so much cool stuff that I want to do but don’t get around to.

So rather than pit enthusiasm against expertise, I suggest an alchemical model. Enthusiasm becomes Expertise when we trust our heart and mind. Playfulness, creativity and joy allows our wholistic desires to surface. We start to naturally select what gives us pleasure and meaning.

With that, I am ready to ditch all my roles and promote myself to not to CEO or COO but to Expert Enthusiast—a title that requires mastery of my own un-doing.