How One True Calling is Not ‘One-Size-Fits-All’
Navigating through life with multiple passions
Balancing passions was never my strong suit. My imposter syndrome would show up every now and then someone would ask me about one of my passions.
To give you some context, I have never been the kind to stick to one thing.
It started right after High School when I had to decide between multiple careers. Given my parents were supportive and open-minded- they left this decision on me. I remembered in 2008; we didn’t have the choices widely available now -bloggers, stylists, content creators, etc. Back then, my father bought me four forms- one for Science, one for Commerce, one for Arts & one for IT Diploma. There started my confusion- until recently, I used to blame my indecisiveness for being a Libran.
In case you’re wondering, I chose Diploma (IT) and kept thinking even after many years if it was the right choice as I was always inclined towards becoming a Marketing Exec, sometimes a Doctor, a Baker, and the list goes on. People would call me indecisive; hell, I had assumed I was one. A few years ago, I realized I am an individual with more than one calling, and guess what- there’s no harm in it.
As soon as I learned about it, it fascinated me to think how the other half lived- happily with their one calling, one thing they love and do all their life. I even got to a point sometimes being jealous when people say they always knew what they wanted to do ever since being a kid. I knew I could never live doing one thing all life and always thought I would end up as a ‘Jack of all trades, master of none.’
While questioning my choices and ever-increasing passions, I succumbed to the infamous- Google. I looked up, and there, I found out about a book randomly- The Renaissance Soul. Everything I read about it online( yet to buy it) made me feel like a renaissance soul myself.
I am a woman who wants to achieve it all- from Photography to Side hustles, writing, being a health coach to being the best Professional in my field. But that was not all; I researched a million ways to be your most productive soul while having multiple passions like myself.
This is what worked for me- The 5-step approach. I have been practicing it for two years; I hope it works for you to pursue everything you ever wanted.
Step 1- Admit to yourself that you have more than one calling.
I know so many people who restrict themselves to working on one thing all their lives just because that is expected from us. If you like what you do and are satisfied, great, keep doing what you’re doing! But, if there is a tiny voice inside your head while you read this which says, I wish I could do XYZ, but I am doing ABC right now- you need to confront yourself and do what you deserve- work on your other passion; at the cost of sounding cliché, it’s never too late!
You will regret the ideas you don’t try much more than the things you fail at. Trust me; if you like something even 1%, it is worth it. You will never know how good you are; until you try.
I understand that the most challenging part about this is to try to fit in, conforming to societal expectations. However, embrace the beautiful thought that you have multiple interests, which is the first step to Freedom! Freedom to do everything you love and also be good at it if you give yourself a chance!
I admitted this to myself just a few years ago, and it changed my whole perspective about work, I am happier now, and I do not punish myself for wanting to do more things.
Step 2- Identify your passions, filter them out and WRITE IT DOWN!
Figure out makes you happy, and what are you excited about. The best way to do this is- Ask yourself- If I didn’t have my current job/responsibilities, what would I do right now? It will take a minute, but this will change your whole life.
Write down all of your interests on a sticky note, whiteboard, wherever it makes sense for you. Wherever you can watch it every day, and you will find a way to pursue it.
Even if there are ten interests on your list, write each of them down. Ask yourself or discuss those with any supportive loved one to identify the top 3 passions you want to prioritize over others. Think this-
1. What are your dreams?
2. How does your long-term life plan look like?
3. Are you happy with the way your life is going right now?
Chances are there will be some interests that you can work on simultaneously or group together too. This will help boost your confidence and also help take your top 3 passions seriously to start working on them.
In my case, I discussed them with my husband a long time and sat down with my planner to identify my options; I wrote down all of them to later work on pros and cons against each to identify my top 3.
Every day, I would watch it even if I wasn’t working on any yet, and that boosted my focus as I started to explore options and called multiple people in that same field or who had the same interests as me to get a head start.
“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” -Julia Child
Step 3- Research, Explore, WORK (and FAIL if needed!)
You are wired to explore in multiple directions; make use of it! Explore your top 3 passions and pursue them hardcore. Work so hard that even if you fail- it brings a smile on your face only because you took a chance.
Imagine one day looking at your kids crying, cooking, or ordering takeout; you see someone on Instagram living your dream life. How does that make you feel? It sucks, right!
Now, imagine you worked on your idea years ago, and now you are an expert in this field, which also pays for your child’s education while still being able to put some into savings.
So, this is the time to work hard even if you are confused. Talk to more people in that field/interest/profession (whatever it is- from being a Marathon runner to a Baker to an Artist)
Find your tribe and Educate yourself! The most significant advantage of living in the Age of Internet is the access to anything and everything. Make the Internet work for you by educating yourself- by reading online, watching YouTube videos, or merely following an expert on their social media.
Work hard towards your goals, break them down into smaller tasks and prioritize each over time by building a Roadmap that is realistic and works for you (that is an article for another time)
Even if you fail after doing everything, Pat yourself in the back and move on to your next passion, and Repeat. This is the best part of being a multi-passionate that you always have the next thing to start working on.
Your zeal will be an inspiration not only to yourself but also to others. There’s a high probability you can turn your energy and build your brand while making it one of your income streams in today’s times.
Step 4- Time Management
Since we have so many interests, curiosities and passions, we always get short on time. I bet time crunch is easy, the most common roadblock for us all. However, not to mistake it as a small priority to strategize time management To Manage time while juggling multiple interests is as important as identifying them.
Some ideas that worked for me while pursuing multiple interests-
1. Identifying the best time I could work on my other interests- some weeks it was burning the night oil, and sometimes it was over the weekends alone; anything that is sustainable and makes me happy while working on my day job
2. Making a To-do list of all the things I needed to keep myself accountable
3. Writing down smaller tasks on a bunch of sticky notes and putting them around my work desk
4. Avoiding burnout and not beating up myself if I miss a few days or a week- feeling overwhelmed is the most common experience, but addressing it and taking appropriate breaks will help me be productive and healthy
5. Creating realistic milestones for staying focused and rewarding myself when I meet them
The most important thing here is to be patient with anything you begin working on. Focus on pursuing your truth, your passion, and you will achieve success.
Step 5- Market Yourself
The easiest way to market yourself right now is to use Social media. It can vary between using an Instagram/Facebook/Twitter/Tiktok account and expanding to Medium, your blog, website, etc. In most cases, with little to no money- you can promote you/your brand as much as you want.
Consistency is the key when posting on social media to ensure your target audience follows you. Always ensure that you are either posting entertaining, relevant, updated, inspirational, or valuable content.
Using one of these categories- you will be providing value to your audience- This not only helps in increased engagement but also with your personal growth. Ensure your content is consistent across multiple public platforms instead of relying on one sole platform.
Stay knowledgeable of the industry you are working on (be it hand lettering, painting, or learning a new language) and always stay at the top of your game to brand yourself. Listen to podcasts, talk to more experts and put yourself out there- set up some interviews with them to learn and network.
Networking is one of the evergreen ways to market yourself to find opportunities and build your brand. It will help create an email list of your network that is the most helpful for any interest/business.
There is a fine line between posting too much content to the right amount of it. Ensure you do not overwhelm your audience on social media platforms and discourage them from following you. Understand the balance and analyze what works the best for both of you.
Ultimately, the thing that works 100% like a charm is to be REAL. It is easy to imitate someone but difficult to stay original. Ensure you are true to yourself, your value, and what sets you apart- It always works!
As my manager says- ‘Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn’ and show your real self to the world, and you will see the change :)
Takeaway-
If there is anything you need to take away from this article with you- Multiple passions do not equal multiple distractions. Use your interests to your advantage so you can be happier and be your badass self. Just because your trajectory does not make sense to others does not mean it’s not right. Stay the course and give yourself time to figure everything out. Keep chasing your sparkle!
