Trying to figure out what you’re meant to do in life is just….overwhelming. I’m not the woman who woke up and knew my true calling was to be a doctor, lawyer or a teacher. I went to college, didn’t find my dream major and make a career out of it. I haven’t had a job I love or like, really, except when I’m taking care of kids. I don’t have cool skills like baking or DIY projects. I don’t have any creative skills like painting or drawing or singing. I can write but I’m no author…yet. I love cooking but I’m no Ayesha Curry. I don’t have interior design skills. I’ve spent my adult life trying to figure out what I could offer the world, and what I could do that didn’t feel like actual work.
Do you ever feel like that? Like you have no ONE skill or interest, or that you have so many interests but none that you could make a career out of? Quite simply, you don’t know what your true calling is.
This week, I’ve been reflecting on the things that bring me happiness, the things I like to do, and what my interests are. Which brings me to my next point. It’s ok to like a lot of different things or better yet, it’s ok to explore different things because you only get one life!
TED Talks are good for the soul
My favorite TED talk is by Emilie Wapnick called “Why Some of Us Don’t Have One True Calling”. She also wrote a great book on this topic too. It’s my absolute FAVORITE TED talk because it literally describes me in 12 minutes. She calls people with many different interests, “multipotentialites”. We have a name! We’re the people who wanted to be so many different things when we “grew up”. We’re the people who like so many different things but don’t know how to make a career out of it because we get bored easily and move to the next interest. We are constantly trying to figure out where we fit in this professional world, and honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that and…newsflash: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! In fact, as Emilie goes on to say, all those interests may just be the key to your success.
I listened to a webinar on finding your passion and purpose by a woman named Natanya Bravo (IG: @thebravolife) who bought a one-way ticket to Paris after a friend asked her “what’s the one thing you’ve always wanted to do but never said out loud?” and ya’ll…. I FELT THAT. For her, it was living in Paris.
We all have one thing that we’ve always wanted to do but never told anyone or maybe we’ve said it like this: “in a perfect world, I would do ______”. Well, maybe it’s time to DO what you’ve always wanted to. Go to that audition, send off those headshots, write that song, make that Youtube channel, try out for that show, join that group, speak at that event, apply for that dream job, form that networking relationship, or do ALL OF IT! Push yourself out your comfort zone.
I’ll give you my truth:
The one thing I’ve always wanted to do but never said out loud is to be an actress.
Just writing it is crazy to me.
And you know what else? I’m going to make a portfolio of headshots, and this summer, I’m going to try and go to some casting calls. It’s time to step out my comfort zone. For real!
My advice to you: Explore all your interests, do that thing you’ve always dreamed of, even it’s living abroad for a year. You can be a nanny, au-pair, or teach. Take that leap of faith. You never know where you might land.
I’m curious, what’s something you’ve always wanted to do but never said out loud?
XOXO,
K. Marie