Choosing and Developing Hobbies

Decided to post this in askrpc because I'm not sure if itd be right on the main sub. Might make it into a more thorough post if there is interest.

I'm going to try to make this not long winded, so if it feels unfinished or if you have questions please let me know. This post originated because I've been noticing a severe lack of understanding in developing hobbies during OYS posts. Hobbies are a great step forward If you feel stuck in a job, or feel like your evangelistic opportunities are slim. Investing in a new activity deliberately might be the thing that turns it around. Hopefully this brief guide helps.

So I want to take a minute and make and outline some of my philosophies for "Hobbies" and how to evaluate if you are wasting your time with yours.

For simplicity's sake, I've generalized hobbies into 5 categories.

1. Physical Activity/Health ex. Weight lifting

2. Financial Gain ex. Picking up scrap metals and selling them.

3. Artistic Expession ex. Cooking, art, music.

4. Social Exposure/Networking ex. Volunteering

5. High Mental Stimulation ex. Reading, taking classes

I have personally found that people who have two or less hobbies quickly plateau. I strongly recommend juggling 3 and each hobby needs to be a combination of at least 2 of the 5 generalizations. (The only exception I make is if you consider going to your own home gym a hobby.)

Three different examples of this being applied: (I will try not to make big stretches with this)

Cooking - It can be an artistic expression, it can very well help concurrent with any physical activity you do, and if you put your mind to developing those skills it can be very mentall stimulating.

Offering Physical Training - Satisfies both Financial (getting paid to train someone) and can help you stay in shape.

Participating in a Local Nerd Convention - Dress up (or down) and get excited. Go the extra mile with your crazy outfit. Then MEET PEOPLE. Those connections might be invaluable for a plethora of reasons.

If you have hobbies that are only 1 of the generalizations I would be pretty shocked if it couldn't be altered into making it two, or that there is a variant that already exists that could be two.

The inverse is, if you don't know how to get better at a hobby, adding another facet is a good way to increase your proficiency at it.

For example, if you are really really into drawing but you never share it at a show, or try to sell it (or heaven forbid you never try to learn how to draw better) either kill that passion, or turn it into something that is more than some pathetic hidden guilty pleasure.

"But Praex, what does this have to do RedPill, or Christianity?"

To say it as briefly as I can, labeling your hobbies under a few of those 5 generalizations can help give you purpose and focus to a hobby. In regards to Redpill it will give you opportunities to test out the material you are suppose to be internalizing.

For the aspect of faith, it is having focused hobbies allows you to use them as a means for furthering your mission and growing your sphere of Godly influence. Passive hobbies like uninspired television watching doesn't add to those around you, nore does it paint the image of God on you. If you have to change a hobby to be more involved in it, to develope it into something that challenges you more, there will be more opportunity to influence others and to lead them.

I'm curious as to what other hobbies you guys here have, if you have a moment (which I'm sure some of you might have due to the Q) I'd be curious to read a short snippet of it and how you're investing in it.