Have you ever noticed that when questioned about what we want to do for the rest of our lives there seems to be no space for more than one answer? We feel pressured to name that one thing that we were destined to accomplish on this earth, our purpose, our one true calling.
For some of us, the question was easy. Some have always known they were going to be a teacher, a therapist, or an athlete. For some of us however, we could not possibly fathom choosing one thing to pursue all of our lives. The thought of choosing one passion and disregarding all others is daunting for us.
Emelie Wapnick has a name for you. You may be a multipotentialite. You have probably pursued a billion different passions, choosing a new one only to let that one go because you found new inspiration elsewhere. You go through this pattern so many times and eventually wonder if something is wrong with you. How are you going to make all of these passions into a career? Are you afraid of commitment or self-sabotage? How can you possibly choose just one?
What if I told you that you don’t have to choose just one? What if I told you that you are normal and that you can have multiple interests and career pursuits? That is the argument Emelie Wapnick makes in her TED talk titled, “Why some of us don't have one true calling.” It is one that goes against the grain and contradicts societal norms. She understands that not all of us were wired to be specialists in this world. Some of us do not have one true calling and that is OK.
In fact, it is more than okay. Wapnick explains that there are “three multipotentialite superpowers.” These are strengths that polymaths, renaissance people or whatever you want to call them, particularly excel at.
The first superpower is idea synthesis, which she defines as “combining two or more fields and creating something new at the intersection.” What this means is that you have the ability to come up with some amazing, innovative ideas. You see the potential in multiple backgrounds and fuse them together to make something new. With your expansive knowledge in multiple areas, the possibilities are endless.
The second superpower is rapid learning. All of those times you engrossed yourself in something new, were not all for nothing. You were exercising this strength. Wapnick also adds that since you have been a beginner time and time again, you aren’t afraid of trying something new. Remember the skills that you acquired in those other areas you never thought you would use again? Well, sometimes those skills are useful in other disciplines. No matter what new passion you pursue, you will “rarely be starting from scratch.”
Adaptability is the final super power. This is when you are flexible enough to adjust to different situations and circumstances. This is an incredibly valuable trait in an unpredictable world filled with uncertainty. You learn to thrive in any situation because of your extensive skill set and can-do attitude.
Wapnick urges us to be a society where we foster these superpowers in multipotentialites. Instead, of limiting them to a single pursuit, “we have a vested interest in encouraging multipotentialites to be themselves. We have a lot of complex, multidimensional problems in the world right now, and we need creative, out-of-the-box thinkers to tackle them.”
The main message Wapnick wants to communicate to you is to “embrace your inner wiring, whatever that may be.” If you know you have one true calling and want to pursue that to the fullest, by all means do so. However, for those who have a multipotentialite mindset and think they may have multiple callings, do not be afraid to pursue and explore all of your passions. Remember that there is nothing more fulfilling then being your fullest self.
To hear Emelie Wapncick’s full TED talk watch, “Why some of us don't have one true calling.”
