The Burdens and Joys of Multipotentiality

How to find that sweet spot where multiple abilities converge

Emma, a bright, engaging teen whose immigrant parents worked hard to support their family, had a passion for art and wanted to study graphic design in college. She possessed many additional strengths, including aptitude in math. Her parents insisted she major in engineering, hoping this would provide the security of a stable career. As a psychologist, I worked with Emma (whose name I’ve changed here for confidentiality) to help her deal with her anger and heartbreak.

Ultimately, she relented to her parents, acknowledging how hard they had worked and understanding their practical advice.

Image: Fotolia

Emma had too many talents.

It might sound like a windfall — an amazing advantage bestowed upon the lucky few. But possessing multiple talents and interests creates an unforeseen burden. Sure, it sounds like one of those problems everyone wants to have. But for anyone tasked with choosing from an array of career options, this phenomenon known as “multipotentiality” can feel more like a curse than a blessing.

Multipotentiality was first described by education specialist Tamara Fisher as “the state of having many exceptional talents, any one or more of which could make for a great career.” A few years later, multipotentiality advocate Emily Wapnick coined the term “multipotentialite” to describe people with many abilities.

“When multipotentialites are supported and encouraged to embrace their diverse skills and experiences, they’re able to tap into their superpowers,” says Wapnick. These include the capacity for “idea synthesis, rapid learning, adaptability, big picture thinking, relating to and translating between different types of people, ‘languages,’ and modes of thought.”

When unleashed, multipotentialites enrich our world. Emma’s multipotentiality is similar in many ways to the likes of other multipotentialites, such as Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Maya Angelou, whose contributions to the world emerged from their various talents.

While most parents in American culture are thrilled when their child displays multiple talents and interests, by adulthood, multipotentialites are expected to put their passions aside and make a definitive career choice. In fact, many multipotentialites are viewed by the world at large with curiosity and suspicion. Transitioning from one career to another can seem unconventional at best and haphazard at worst. How can he accomplish anything if he keeps changing gears? Why can’t she just stick with something?

An existential dilemma

Multipotentialites frequently juggle a range of unrelated interests and talents, creating a quandary about reconciling these potential paths. Adapting to this reality can be difficult, causing despair that they must abandon one of their passions. When forced to choose among several career paths, an existential dilemma may arise. Will I regret choosing a more lucrative career over one I would love? How do I relinquish my dream of pursuing a path that might be more fulfilling?

The harsh reality that “alternatives exclude” is central to appreciating this existential conflict. A decision “invariably involves renunciation,” writes psychiatrist and existentialist Irvin Yalom in his book, Love’s Executioner. “For every yes, there must be a no, each decision eliminating or killing other options.” Yalom even comments that the Latin root for the word “decide” means “to slay,” and likens it to homicide or suicide.

For some multipotentialites, dispensing with a beloved interest or career path might seem inconceivable; it truly feels like killing off a dream. Yet, reality encroaches, and most eventually make a decision. It’s the grown-up thing to do… right? Acutely aware of their uncertainty and the potential for regret, they weigh their choices carefully. While some may find creative solutions that combine what they love, others may not. They recognize that they cannot have everything, and may need to mourn the loss of what was put aside.

What to consider when choosing a career path

Multipotentialite teens and young adults need the freedom to weigh their options and choose a direction that ideally brings them joy — but at the very least, encompasses one of their strong interests and strengths, fits with their values, and will engage a sense of meaning and purpose.

Many multipotentialites learn to adapt and find the means to accommodate their varied interests. Sometimes, their aspirations may be tailored toward sequential careers, with one vocation supplanting another. Other times, one seemingly different strength can be combined with another skill. An aptitude for chemistry, for example, can enhance cooking skills. An actor with a social work degree might form an improvisation group to help socially anxious teens.

The following are considerations for multipotentialite teens, young adults, or adults of any age looking to transition into a new career path:

1. What do you value most?

Is it creative expression? Investigative discovery? Helping the underserved? Advancing scientific knowledge? Leading a team to develop a new solution? It may not be the content of what you do, but how you work, who you will interact with, the freedom to express yourself, and how it will serve your goals. Consider how you might spend your workday and whether your actual responsibilities correspond with what you value most.

2. Which of your interests and abilities translate into work you would find engaging and meaningful?

Some talents may not lead to a salaried job that is compatible with your values and goals. If you are an artist, for example, you might not want to work for an ad agency or sell paintings in a gallery… but then again, you also have to pay the bills. Sometimes a career path may be uninspiring, but is a temporary option for earning a livable wage or a stepping stone to achieving what you truly want. Of all eventual paths, which one would eventually provide an engaging, creative, and purposeful existence?

3. Do you have an overriding passion that you must pursue?

Some multipotentialites feel compelled to follow a career direction or “calling,” and cannot imagine any other option. Many artists, actors, and musicians who choose a financially uncertain path felt they had no other choice. They could not envision a life without their art, regardless of the potential for hardship. Despite possessing multiple talents, the decision is clear. Yet, if you cannot imagine life without your calling — but want to avoid financial hardship — you might need to consider other creative solutions, as described below.

4. Can you envision some compromise or means of accommodating your multipotentiality?

While some may recommend that you choose a career and relegate secondary interests to a hobby, you might consider other creative alternatives. These might include sequential career changes, side jobs, or integrating your many talents into a chosen career field. For example, creative writing skills can be a plus in almost any career. Artists bring perspective-taking skills to problem-solving in the business world. Musicians find that their “sense of rhythm and flow” enhances both interactions with colleagues and the strength of their writing. Mathematicians bring precision, clarity, and spatial ability to most tasks.

I don’t know what happened to Emma. We stopped working together once she left for college, so I don’t know if she remained in engineering or pursued graphic design. I would not be surprised, though, if she found a path that integrated her many talents — perhaps working as an engineer and spending her free time painting, or finding a position where creative design was part of the job.

Most of all, I hope she made peace with her decisions.

Rather than a burden, many multipotentialites eventually view their multipotentiality as a bonus and as a trait that enhances much of what they do. Even seemingly dissimilar strengths can share commonalities that enliven and enrich academic pursuits, careers, and personal lives. Yes, alternatives exclude. However, exploring a path that engages your interests and talents, fits with your values, and fulfills your sense of purpose may alleviate some of your nagging doubts — and allow you to appreciate the opportunities your many talents and interests provide.

This article was first published on Medium on June 28, 2023. For more of my articles about health and wellness, join me there: https://medium.com/@gailpostphd.