The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One
Margaret Lobenstine
Language: English
Pages: 179
ISBN: B002SB8PN8
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
How do I decide what to do with my life when there are so many things I want to do?
It is conventional wisdom that there is one true path in life for each of us. But what about those with a wide array of interests, a dynamic curiosity about the world, and an ever-renewing wellspring of passions? Margaret Lobenstine calls these people “Renaissance Souls,” and in this groundbreaking book, she offers a life-planning strategy in tune with their dynamic, change-loving personalities. Renaissance Souls often get stuck, moving from entry-level job to entry-level job, degree to degree, or hobby to hobby, unwilling to settle on just one thing to do “for the rest of my life.” Or, after achieving success in one field, they yearn for new challenges and begin looking around for something different. Yet they are also afraid that if they pursue their changing interests, they will have to give up on financial security, becoming “a jack of all trades and master of none.”
The Renaissance Soul, the first book devoted to this personality type, not only shows that it’s possible to design a successful, vibrant life built on multiple passions, but also gives readers the practical advice to do so.
got. 1. Does the school offer a broad range of courses? Large state universities allow students to choose from classes in everything from the history of witchcraft to advanced astrophysics. Smaller liberal arts colleges, especially those in remote locations, often cannot support the kind of staff required to teach such a wide variety of subjects. But if you prefer the atmosphere of a smaller college, you can inquire whether the school has a cooperative arrangement with other colleges to expand
in one field, rather than switching from one career to another”? Yes___ No___ 19. When friends or family members describe you to others, do they often say, “Oh, ______ just hasn't settled down yet. ______ is always trying something different. I wish ______ would just figure out something s/he's interested in and stick to it!” Yes___ No___ 20. Do you distrust your own decision-making ability because you “definitely knew” you wanted to be an X, and then you “definitely knew” you wanted to be a
exceptions. When I first read about this third prong, it angered me. I—along with many of my clients—have worked hard to avoid this all-or-nothing thinking. “Do it every day, every week, every year, forever and ever—or you've blown it!” is the kind of motto that undermines many a Renaissance Soul. But as I thought about it, I realized that the challenge implicit in James's suggestion is to reframe the desired goal in such a way that it's both realistic and practical to make no exceptions. For
designing, and building their house. “We had even agreed to cut back on the cost of our wedding and honeymoon, because our house dream seemed paramount to both of us,” she said. “So what happened?” I asked. Jeanne's face fell. “I can't bear it. He wants to live there forever. He doesn't want to change a thing or go anywhere! He's totally content. And now that the house is all done, the project finished, I'm bored out of my gourd. I'm ready to build something else. Or at least move—I've been
I've never gone into another project without a true team, and what a difference that has made in my life! OR DO YOU FEAR SUCCESS? At almost every workshop I've given, someone has said, “But what about those of us who fear success instead of failure? I don't know how many times people have told me it's my fear of success that makes me jump ship every time I seem to be getting near the top.” Others in the room nod their head in pained agreement. In response, I tell them about clients and