I’ve been thinking a lot about play, joy, and enthusiasm, especially as they relate to my multipotentiality. Then I came across a German term that hits home: Funktionslust.

Loosely translated, it’s the joy of fully engaging in what you’re meant to do. Not the thrill of achievement. Not the satisfaction of ownership. Just doing. Stephen Nachmanovitch calls it “the pleasure of doing” in his book Free Play. That’s it. No finish line. Just flow.

It’s being present, not by forcing mindfulness, but by getting so lost in the work that nothing else exists.

For me, as a multipotentialite, Funktionslust means many projects. A half-read stack of books next to my bed. Sketchbooks filled with ideas I may never make. Diving into something new simply because it’s there. Because I can.

If I had a Funktionslust meter, it would be red-lining every time I’m making, reading, creating, chasing ideas, imagining something wild. That’s when I feel most alive.

What does Funktionslust look like for you?

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