Mastery

Mastery is defined as comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject or accomplishment. To become a master at anything it is estimated that it takes at least 10,000 hours of practice, study or performance of the activity or the equivalent of 5 hours every day for 6 years. This time commitment is no guarantee of mastery over the subject however, but is thought to be a minimum requirement. Mastery requires interest in the subject for sustained attention and focus with a desire for excellence.

What is the significance of mastery and why should anyone strive for it? For one thing, masters tend to find joy in their specialty and it confers a sense of meaning to their lives. To be an expert and to practice your expertise is in a sense to be living life to the fullest, to be realizing your potential. This is known to be associated with a sense of fulfillment and true lasting happiness. To be a specialist is not the same as being a master in your specialty. You may specialize in playing chess, but that does not make you a chess master. The same goes for any endeavor. Mastery requires the development of extreme skill over years of practice and study with an added dose of creative utility.

Unfortunately, we cannot all become masters of our craft. We can however strive for mastery, and this striving can put us on the path to lasting contentment and fulfillment. Develop an interest in something and dedicate yourself to it. Become the best you can be at this particular thing. Many people struggle to find an interest that they are passionate enough about to dedicate the time and effort to achieve mastery. Interests can and do change. Personalities differ. You may have to explore and try out different things and get many different experiences before you find something that captures you enough to commit to it fully. Passions are not necessarily ingrained in us. They are developed. We grow and learn and as we do, we discover more about ourselves, our preferences and our talents. The point is to find a way to utilize your strengths, your talents, your abilities and put them to good use. Develop them and commit yourself to becoming the best you can be at something. This niche will help sustain you throughout your lifetime. It will connect you to others that share your interest or appreciate your abilities.

If you struggle with motivation and sustaining your attention and interest you are not alone. The world is full of distractions and interesting things to command your attention. It is easy to take interest in something for a time, then become bored or lose interest. It is not wrong to explore the world and discover what captures your attention. This is a process of learning. Ultimately, motivation is enhanced by three primary factors: Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose. So if you want to be motivated and to accomplish something, try to discover a pursuit with some purpose, pursue it with some sense of freedom, and ideally pursue mastery of the subject or skill. This formula works not only for the pursuit of happiness, it helps in recovery and healing from illness and distress. Finding a source of passion will increase your energy, improve your focus, and help give your life meaning beyond what exists already. The joy you receive will be shared with other people and improve their lives in some small way as well.