You Can Be More Than One Thing (A Reminder)

I recently did a Headspace meditation, and the idea of identity foreclosure came up. This is the tendency that many of us have to attach ourselves to one identity or role throughout our lifetime without exploring other options. Interestingly, it was something that had already been on my mind a lot. Identity foreclosure happens to many people who show specific talents at a young age. While I went to a school where most kids were working towards becoming doctors or lawyers, my own path was looking a little different from that; I really only excelled at one thing, and that thing was art.

After about seventh grade, I became a pretty bad student. I goofed off constantly, often skipped class, and even almost failed gym class somehow. I generally hated being there, but you could usually find me in the art room painting or making things. Being a doctor (or a lawyer) was out of the question, and I never really felt that I could pursue painting or drawing as a career since I was incessantly told that I would never be able to make a living from it. But, I knew that I could apply my love for art to a career that would be more applicable to what I deemed the "real world", which was design.

Throughout my undergraduate studies, I took electives such as painting, drawing, and other fine arts classes that I worked tirelessly on. Even after graduating, I spent more of my free time painting than focusing on design. However, I had attached myself to the idea that I could only be one thing, and that one thing was what I chose to do as a 17-year-old: become a Graphic Designer. I'm not unhappy with my decision because I really do LOVE what I do, and I've had a fulfilling career so far. But the sad reality is that over time, I slowly stopped working as hard and with as much passion on my art. And through that, I let go of a huge part of who I am.

I'm going to pivot for a moment, but this is still relevant. I was watching a Creative Mornings talk back in November, and the speaker described herself as a multidisciplinary artist and designer, a term I hadn't heard since I was in art school. I don't think I'd ever considered what that meant, besides feeling like it sounded as though the person didn't know what they did (which I know isn't true). But at this point in my life, I felt that I could relate to her wholeheartedly. She talked about how confusing it was for a very long time to have multiple interests. She never really felt as though she knew what kind of artist (or designer) she was or what "her thing" was until she accepted the fact that she didn't have to define herself as one single thing.

I never really explored the idea that my identity could incorporate more than one interest. Once I heard her describe her experience, I realized that it would be an incredibly liberating feeling to stop trying to fit myself into this singular definition of who I thought I was supposed to be. I thought about my past and how I've started so many different projects that I let go of because they didn't fit into that definition. From creating dried flower art, making jewelry, cross-stitching, and sewing stuff, I also wanted to start a vegan baking blog for a while and I baked almost every day for a year. This realization prompted me to start exploring the things I love again. I started painting and drawing in my free time, writing a lot more, and figuring out what it means to be an artist, designer, and a generally creative person without having any hangups about it.

I'm still in the process of making these shifts in my creative practice and figuring out what that will look like for me. I intend to continue working towards a more diverse portfolio that includes my art and other exciting projects that are in the works. And I'm feeling really good about trying out different avenues of creating without the self-limiting belief that I have to stick to one thing in order to be successful. If you're feeling similarly, I hope that you also find comfort in the fact that you don't need to have one identity your entire lifetime. You have the freedom to reinvent yourself and pursue other avenues whenever you want, even if it has nothing to do with what you're currently doing.

You could be holding on to a past version of yourself that you're outgrowing. So, don't be afraid to step into that part of yourself that's calling you to do so. There's stability to be found in being years into something, and not wanting to let go is totally natural - but that's why recognizing that you can do and be more than one thing gives you the freedom to continue to do that thing (that you probably really love) AND explore other passions with the same amount of dedication. It doesn't have to be confusing, and you don't have to feel like you're having an identity crisis. You're human, and your interests will ebb and flow over your lifetime. Accepting this as a fact might just open you up to an even more fulfilling life!