Buzz
In your pursuit of self-improvement, you'll come across endless books, apps, techniques, and services claiming to 'fix' you or help you reach your fullest potential. Bullet journals, meditation apps, yoga studios, and self-help books—our culture is full of options for those looking to ‘get it together’ and be their best selves.
But what if, instead of jumping into new hobbies or projects, you revisited your old interests with dedication and passion? What if you focused on that for an entire year?
This is the concept that David Cain introduced on his blog, Raptitude. He explained that the idea, which he named the Depth Year, quickly gained popularity. With a Depth Year, the goal is to go deeper into something, rather than scatter your energy across multiple things.
The concept of the 'Depth Year' was initially theoretical—a commentary on how our consumerist tendencies can dilute our ambitions. In today’s world, it's so easy to pick up new pursuits, we often start huge, lifelong projects (like drawing or learning a new language), only to abandon them too soon.
Our inability to follow through often leaves us feeling disappointed, but what’s worse is that we never truly experience the fulfillment we imagined we'd have when we first bought the guitar or drawing tools. Instead, we find ourselves stuck in a cycle of excitement over new beginnings, only to move on before the spark truly takes hold.
The key is not to buy new things, but perhaps even more crucial, as Cain suggests, is recognizing that 'depth' means different things to different people. For some, it’s about appreciating what you already own and resisting the urge to purchase new items. For others, it’s about pruning excess, questioning the impulse to acquire, and redirecting focus on what truly matters.
The aim is to dive deeper into your existing goals and passions—read the books you’ve already collected, practice more yoga poses instead of trying meditation for the first time, and stick with the activities that matter, all while 'cultivating' their value.
Cain reflects that the Depth Year helped him develop 'a new lens for viewing the tools and opportunities that had always been there.' He writes that possibility is abundant when you learn to see it.
This shift in perspective can help you break free from society’s constant obsession with having more and doing better. Rather than focusing on what you lack or cannot do, you start going deeper with what you already have, and embrace what you *can* do.
