Last year, I quit my book club.
It wasn’t because of the back-and-forth text messages involved in trying to get a group of women together. It wasn’t because of the women; they were incredibly lovely. And it wasn’t the time commitment. I have no problem pulling away from life for an evening.
Something had just started to feel different.
It was similar to what happened when I picked up a self-help book. I would enthusiastically read the first few chapters, only to fizzle out a few days later.
I notice a version of this now, too. A problem will pop up, and I’ll reach for my phone to “figure it out.” Then, within seconds, I’ll see what I’m doing and put it back in my pocket.
There is something about continually adding more: more information, more explanations, more understanding, more ways to improve, that my system seems to be rejecting.
The Promise of More
Our book club wasn’t technically a self-help book club. We mostly read nonfiction: books about understanding ourselves and the world around us. We read books like Stolen Focus by Johann Hari and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari.
You might be wondering:
What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with being curious? With seeking out the perspectives of thoughtful experts? With trying to better ourselves and the world?
At least, that’s what my mind said…along with: What will this group think of me when I make my exit?
But I’m starting to question the assumption that more information is necessarily how any of that happens.
And to be clear, I’m not losing interest in learning. I love learning. My curiosity may never be quenched when it comes to studying the microbiome and other topics related to my gut-health clients. When my son is advised to try medication for ADHD, I want to understand the differences among his options.
There are plenty of circumstances in which more information is exactly what we need.
But there are also times when gathering more information becomes a substitute for living - another attempt to find certainty, solve ourselves, or finally feel as though we understand enough.
