i seek novelty

welcome to introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, and always up to something in social good x tech.

this publication is a place for me to reflect on productivity, health and tech, and drop unique opportunities in the space right to your inbox daily. if you’re new here, sign up to tune in!💌

scroll to the end for my daily roundup on unique opportunities!

onto today’s topic: i seek novelty 🏔️ 

i googled “i seek novelty” and turns out there’s a lot of research behind the term “novelty-seeking” and “neophilia.” most of it had negative connotations associated with it, so i’m going to redefine what seeking novelty looks like for me.

at a baseline, the idea of making the unfamiliar something familiar is exciting to me, so long as it doesn’t go against my values or is guaranteed to be a detriment to my health or relationships. my quest for novelty doesn’t go so far as to compromise the things that matter most to me: my people, health, and ambition. 🧘‍♀️ 

much of the negative connotations arise when novelty seeking becomes the forefront of one’s identity. i wouldn’t say that’s the case, but it certainly drives a lot of my excitement once i’ve been assured my priorities are in order.

let me paint a small picture to put this into context.

whenever i visit a new city, i want to familiarize myself asap. that looks like going from one side of the city to another via public transportation, trying a new cafe or restaurant for each meal, and stepping into spaces that catch my eye, even if it’s not “according to schedule.” if i see a unique drink on the menu, that’s what i’m going to order, even if my favourite drink is also an option. food and travel are two areas where novelty drives pretty much all of my decision-making. 👩‍✈️ 

my love for novelty also shapes a lot of my career-related aspirations. i can’t see myself doing the same thing every day — honestly, i can’t see myself doing the same thing all day for even one day. not only that, i want to create something new in the world, and that’s represents this trait of mine the best.

exploring the unknown is exciting, as long as you’re still grounded to your sense of self.

daily opportunity + resource drops 🔍️