Sylvia Plath once wrote, “I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story…I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest.”
These words have echoed in my mind for as long as I can remember, resonating deeply with the struggle I’ve faced in trying to choose just one path. I’ve often envied those who could dive deeply into a single area of interest, focusing all their energy and passion there. Instead, I find myself wanting to juggle many passions and identities, but this often leaves me feeling like I can’t invest fully into any of them.
I’ll be sharing more of my journey here of trying to grow with this concept in mind — right now I work at a corporate job and find myself yearning to work on my creative writing, my businesses, my hobbies, etc. It’s been difficult to juggle it all, and in all my conclusions I know that the corporate job doesn’t quite fit into my life, but it’s a necessary right now for income.
Sound familiar? If so, the following tips might help.
Are you multipassionate? Take this quick quiz:
What is being multipassionate?
Recently, I stumbled upon the concept of being multipassionate, and it was like a light bulb moment for me. It’s the recognition that some of us have a wide range of interests, talents, and passions, and trying to narrow ourselves down to just one feels stifling and unnatural. Being multipassionate means embracing the richness of life’s offerings and allowing ourselves to explore and pursue multiple paths simultaneously.
Finding this out was helpful for many reasons, but an important one is that I realized it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can just be part of who I am.
So now I’m working through how to implement this into my life without burning out, here are some things I’ve learned so far:
Embrace Your Diverse Skills
One of the blessings (and sometimes curses) of being multipassionate is that you’re good at most things you try. Whether it’s picking up a new hobby, diving into a new project, or excelling in various roles, you have a knack for adapting and thriving in different environments. But just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you have to stay there. It’s okay to explore different avenues and pivot when necessary, even if it means leaving behind something you excel at.
Connect the Dots
Instead of trying to compartmentalize your interests and keep them separate, embrace the interconnectedness of your passions. Look for the common threads that run through your various pursuits and explore how they complement each other. You may find that your diverse skills and experiences can enhance each other in unexpected ways, leading to innovative ideas and unique opportunities.
Embrace Fluidity
One of the keys to thriving as a multipassionate individual is embracing fluidity and flexibility. Rather than rigidly adhering to a predefined path or set of goals, allow yourself the freedom to evolve and adapt as your interests and passions shift over time. Stay open to new experiences, opportunities, and possibilities, and trust that each step you take is leading you closer to fulfillment and authenticity.
And that authenticity doesn’t mean landing on one solidified “identity.”
I’m still learning
I’m still learning and growing into this concept, navigating in a world that often wants to pigeonhole me into one box or label me as one thing. I’m going to try to embrace that this is not a big thing I have to fix, but instead something I can embrace and find the good in.
Photo by Fabio Bracht on Unsplash