Are you a Renaissance Soul too?

Do other people marvel at how quickly a week goes by, or is it just me? I don't quite have the rhythm down yet for the two blogs, a newsletter, a coaching business, relationship, two dogs, family, good friends, housework, self-care, cooking, email, bill-paying, my reading addiction (magazines, blogs, books, sites, newsfeeds, nutrition labels), plus the pursuit of all the creative projects I've been incubating and am itching to dive into -- which I won't even begin to list here.

I guess that's why I was so relieved when I heard the term 'Renaissance Soul' about a year ago through my friend and fabulous creativity/writing coach, Deb Cooperman. The term was coined by Margaret Lobenstine, a Massachusetts-based coach who is currently writing a book (scheduled for release Feb. 2006) entitled, The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Choose Just One.

So what's a Renaissance Soul, you ask? On her site, Margaret says:

"A Renaissance Soul has several key characteristics. The first is preferring variety over concentration. The second is that, within that variety, we proceed by widening options rather than narrowing goals. The third is that when the outcome of our process results in mastery and success, we opt for change rather than expansion, to begin something different rather than go on doing more of the same."

In other words, we're into a lot of stuff ... when we dig into something, instead of narrowing down options, we actually find ourselves drawn to even more things to explore ... and when we've 'been there, done that,' we're ready to move on.

That's me! Whew -- there's finally a name for my 'disease.' If you think you've got it, too, go take the quiz on Margaret's site. While you're there, be sure to check out the free downloads (which include the first chapter), free materials, and other cool things she has on the site.

Margaret makes a wonderful point about how people who have 'too many interests' -- and therefore may move from one thing to another quickly (such as careers), or dabble in a lot of different things -- have traditionally been viewed in a less-than-positive light, let's just say, by those who believe that you should choose a thing and do it for a long, long time, therefore reaching a certain level of achievement over your lifetime. Our culture likes those people (think 'lifetime achievement award')!

Often, though, people who are Renaissance Souls have been labeled underachievers, dilettantes, or worse, when in fact, Margaret says, 'having too many interests' is a great thing and a desirable personality trait, not a character flaw -- especially in the 21st Century. We just don't happen to live in a culture that embraces that view yet, for the most part. Well, it's about time that paradigm shifted, I say. Don't you agree? That what Margaret's work is all about. Brilliant.

I planned to also share some random glimpses into my world of late to bring you up to speed, but I'll have to save that for tomorrow, I'm afraid. Time to run (besides, I'm working on 'shorter, more frequent' posts).

Comments

[Lisa]

I'm glad to hear there's such a NICE name for what ails me (didn't even have to take the quiz to recognize myself)... I've had a few other names for this "condition" but can't repeat them in public.

[Marilyn]

I haven't been to Margaret's site yet (but will check it out, and thank you for the link). But I already know I'm a Renaissance Soul. Truthfully, it's why living on that island for five years was so taxing emotionally and mentally for me--I CRAVE constant change, at least in some area of my life. What I loved most about the description you posted was this: "we proceed by widening options rather than narrowing goals." YES!!! People keep asking me what I want to do now that I'm in California..."What are you PASSIONATE about?" But I've felt truly stumped for an answer...because the most honest answer would be, "What time is it?!" :) It's not that I'm passionate about nothing, it's that I dread the process of picking JUST ONE THING. And with a parent who spent 35 years doing just one thing for the same employer, my chosen lifestyle hasn't exactly been embraced by some. :) So I'm familiar with the grief that can be dished out to those of us who choose this path. I've always known that I hate to 'narrow my goals'--I just didn't have a good counter catchphrase until now. 'Widening my options' it is! And, for me, I can't imagine living any other way. Thanks for posting this!

[Lu]

FINALLY! A name for it. I, too am a Renaissance Soul! All this time, I thought I was lacking focus. When all I was really searching for was variety and spice.

[Jenn]

what a wonderful thing to be...a renaissance soul. and my parents thought I was just a slacker!! I have to have a copy of the book!!

[Will]

Add me to the club. Like Lisa says, it's a nice name to put to something I always critcized myself for. And another little tidbit---I think this soul condition is genetic, because my daughter has it too. I feel like I want to print her up a Renaissance Soul T-Shirt for her to wear proudly to school.

[Jamie]

Hello! I am so excited to have found your blog. When I read your first paragraph I thought, hello kindred spirit! (just substitute 2 cats for 2 dogs)

I haven't actually read the Renaissance Soul, but it has been recommended to me. There's also Barbara Sher's book Refuse to Choose. (I think it's mostly useful if this is a new concept to you. She calls this personality type a scanner). Whatever it's called, I got it! Over the past several years it's helped me to just conceptualize things as projects. That way I get a sense of accomplishment and completion and get to move on!

Lol, I just saw the date you wrote this post. I hope you find this comment, hehe.

[Ezra Hilyer]

Yep, thats me. I likewise don't have to take the quiz to know that I am firmly in that category! I take delight in having a thousand interests, but it does make life difficult at times.
-Ezra Hilyer (www.straypoetry.com)