I’m a multi-passionate creative, specifically, an editor and publisher, an author, an artist and a contemplative who is passionate about helping people with their psychological and spiritual lives – and also helping them write and publish top-quality books. As you can see from my diverse talents, I have many interests, and I have developed skills in all these areas. Someone like this is known as a multipotentialite[1], something that is both a gift and a challenge.
Jack of all trades and master of all?
Our society and social media algorithms demand that we choose one thing in the mistaken idea that we can only learn to do one thing well, and can only succeed in business if we have one clear thing to market. We should be an expert in one field, and we should sell one kind of product or service.
But what if you have many interests and can do them all well? Not only that, but also you are driven to do them all! And if you’re neurodivergent as well, the thought of not being able to do some of the things you are passionate about can be distressing. For autistic people, doing them is a need, not a want.
I’ve had 69 years (so far) to work out how best to face the challenges caused by being multi-passionate in a society that rewards and supports people who are mono-passionate, and I’ve managed to create a satisfying life that embraces my multi-passionate nature, even as an autistic person with ADHD. Now I see others struggling with issues that come from being multi-passionate and/or being neurodivergent or creative or simply from living in this fast-paced modern world, and I want to share how I’m thriving, and how I work with the challenges that arise from being wired this way, hoping that perhaps something in my offerings will inspire and be of use to others.
So this is the first in a series of posts on The Art of Multi-Passionate Living: A Guide for Creatives & Neurodivergents. It will be a category in my blog, so you’ll be able to find the posts easily. And the best way to follow the series is to sign up to my email list to get notifications of new posts in your inbox. You’ll also get a Mental Health Checklist for Social Media and a Loving Light Meditation.
I’m not interested in giving advice from some ‘expert’ soapbox; rather I’m inspired to simply share what I do that enables me to live a satisfying multi-passionate life while also sharing my passions for story, art, nature and spirit.
The key to thriving as a neurodivergent multi-passionate creative
We never had labels for the things that others saw as weird in me when I was a child, and even once they became known, I never thought those labels applied to me until I worked with a psychologist in my 68th year, so my life has not been informed by or restricted by labels with the word ‘disorder’ in them. I just saw myself as someone who had some unusual challenges. I knew I was different, but I never thought I had a disorder, and I never looked to anyone else to solve my problems or guide me. I had no other choice but to get on with life and find my own way, and I recognised early in life that if I was to thrive, I had to acknowledge my needs and create a life that fulfilled them.
That’s how it was for my generation of neurodiverse people; we either found a way to survive or we masked our neurodivergent traits to the point where we eventually crashed and burned. I accepted my weirdness early on, and I not only survived, I thrived. I got out of situations that would have made me crash and burn before I got to that stage. I listened to my inner voice that said, ‘Okay, that’s enough now. Time to move on.’
I’ve learned to work with my ADHD tendencies, not against them, by emphasising the role of inspiration and awareness in getting things done, not trying to sublimate them. I also recognised early on the importance of accepting my lot in life with all its challenges, learning from experience, and connecting with and following my inner wisdom. That last sentence there? That’s the key to thriving. But locating your inner wisdom requires that we develop awareness, and following your inner wisdom takes courage, both of which take time and intention to develop. In time, I’ll share my story of how this played out in my own life.
I never thought I had a disability, and I still don’t, because I carved out a life that gave me the supports I needed, and my autism has also brought me incredible gifts. One of which enables me to be an extraordinarily good editor. Credit where credit’s due, right? But also, identifying our gifts is an important part of developing self-esteem, self-esteem that is in short supply in many multi-passionate creatives and neurodivergent folk, so I’ll talk about that too.
The ADHD Link
People who are multipotentialities don’t necessarily have ADHD, but people with ADHD may have similar traits to multipotentialites, such as:
- Creativity: People with ADHD may be more creative thinkers than others and may be able to think outside the box.
- Hyperfocus: People with ADHD may be able to hyperfocus on a source of stimulation, which can lead to hobbies becoming obsessions.
- Drive and energy: People with ADHD may have a lot of drive, determination, and energy.
However, ADHD can also present challenges for multipotentialites, such as difficulty focusing, feeling overwhelmed, or struggling to find a career that uses all their skills. People with ADHD may also experience social difficulties due to their inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
If you’re a multi-passionate creative looking for a satisfying career, you might also find the story of my working life inspiring. So stick around, because that will come later.
Multi-Passionate and Creative People are Not Necessarily Neurodivergent, but They Often Are
You can be a creative person and not multi-passionate, and you can be multi-passionate and not be neurodivergent. You may simply be interested in a lot of different things and find doing just one of them rather dissatisfying. So what I share here is not only for neurodiverse people; it’s for anyone who considers themselves a creative person or who has multiple interests.
‘It’s estimated that around 20-50% of those working in the creative industries are neurodiverse (for context, only around 15% of people in the UK are neurodiverse).’ [2] But labels aside, if any of this resonates with you, then you’re in the right place. In the next post in this series, I’ll go into more detail about what the word multipotentiate means.
Are you a multi-passionate creative? If so, what are your interests? I’d love to meet you, so please share in the comments below.
[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyblaschka/2023/06/27/6-clues-you-might-be-a-multipotentialite-and-the-best-way-to-leverage-it
[2] https://www.creativereview.co.uk/neurodiversity-creative-industry-experience/
