What Should I Do With My Life? An Honest Answer for Multi-Passionate People

"What should I do with my life?" isn’t really a question. It's an identity crisis, a mystical expedition, a demand for the entire rest of your existence to resolve itself into one sentence, and it usually shows up at 2 am, or in the shower, or right after a fight with your boss or launch that should have gone much better than it did. You type it into Google like it's a thing you can find, not a life you have to live. Of course, nothing that comes back actually answers it, because the question itself focuses on the wrong thing.

I didn't actually ask myself this question correctly for most of my adult life, I just kept answering it with whatever was already expected of me. I spent 15 years as an entrepreneur in tech, started and grew and sold companies, and from the outside it looked like a real success story. On the inside, I didn't love most of what I was doing. I was exhausted, always on edge, and the moment I hit one milestone I was already onto the next one, judging myself for not doing it better. I was living out other people's dreams I'd never actually chosen for myself.

Then in 2010, my parents died five weeks apart. That kind of loss just stops you in your tracks - full stop. I lost my entire sense of purpose, and for the first time in my life I didn't know who I was or what I wanted, because I'd never had to ask before, life had just kept handing me the next expected thing. What surfaced, uninvited, was the real question underneath all of it: why had I put off doing the things I actually wanted to do for so long, and why was I living a life I didn’t even like?

That question took real work to answer, unlearning old messages about what I was supposed to want, untangling what was actually mine from what I'd just absorbed as expected, and rebuilding from there. I've coached creative generalists and multipotentialites, or really, anyone who's never been able to fit inside one job title, through their own version of this exact question for over 10 years since. The kicker? "What should I do with my life?" won’t give you the answers you’re looking for; it’s simply the wrong question to ask.

Why "What Should I Do With My Life?" Feels Impossible to Answer

It feels impossible because it's built like a single, forever decision, and for multi-passionate people specifically, there isn't one true calling sitting around waiting to be discovered. You're not failing a test that has a right answer. You're trying to solve a life-sized problem with a search-bar-sized question.

A 2026 study in Royal Society Open Science, surveying 462 emerging adults, found that higher future anxiety was consistently linked to greater career decision-making difficulty, across every domain researchers measured, lack of readiness, lack of information, and inconsistent information alike. Psychological courage worked in the opposite direction: people who scored higher on it had meaningfully lower odds of landing in the moderate or high-difficulty groups. The research says career indecision isn't mainly an information problem. It's an anxiety-management problem disguised in an information problem's clothes.

Most advice about what you should do with your life assumes you're missing data: a personality test, a quiz, a list of high-paying jobs. You've probably already tried a few of those. You'll also see the claim floating around that the average person changes careers three to seven times in a lifetime. It gets repeated everywhere, but nobody can actually trace it back to a real dataset, so take it for what it is: a number people find comforting, not a verified fact. What the actual research says, though, is this: your fear about getting it wrong is doing more damage to your decision-making than your lack of options ever could.

You're Not Indecisive. You're Multi-Passionate.

You're probably not struggling to figure out what you should do with your life because you can't find the one thing you’re meant to be doing. But that’s the thing. You're struggling because you're trying to pick one thing when you were never a one-thing person to begin with. If you've never heard the word "multipotentialite," or you've just never been able to pick one lane, this is worth reading first, because it changes how this question lands for you.

My stance on this, after a decade of coaching people through it, is combine, not choose. You don't have to pick the one true calling and abandon everything else. You go deep on something, and either you move on for a while, or you circle back to it later, sometimes both, and that's not a lack of discipline; that's just how a multi-passionate life actually moves. "What should I do with my life?" assumes a single answer. You might without any doubt need three or four, held at once or in sequence.

The Question That Actually Works

Here's the reframe I give clients who bring me this exact question: we go from "what should I do with my life" to "what do I want my life to feel like?" One is the search for a job title. The other is the search for a felt sense you can actually test against real decisions. It's also the question that eventually replaced the old one for me, once I stopped trying to answer it with whatever looked right on paper and started paying attention to what I actually wanted to feel.

This isn't just a nicer-sounding question either, it’s where more and more people are already heading. Inc.com covered a real shift in Google Trends data recently: Google data editor Simon Rogers found that "careers that pay well" used to be one of the most consistently top-searched career queries, and it's been overtaken by searches oriented around meaning instead of compensation. People are asking the internet, late at night, what a good job actually feels like, the meaning it can give to their lives, not just what it pays. Separate 2025 research on values-based career decisions backs this up from the outcomes side: people whose career choices are anchored in their actual values, not just external markers like salary or title, report higher job satisfaction, better decision-making, and lower burnout risk down the line.

Feeling isn't the soft, unserious version of this question. It's the more accurate one. "What should I do with my life?" has no answer because a life isn't a single decision. "What do I want my life to feel like?" has an answer, because a feeling is something you can name, test, and build toward on purpose.

A 4-Step Way to Actually Answer It

1. Name the feeling before you name the job. Not "what job" but "what does a good Tuesday actually feel like?" Energized, or calm? Around people, or alone? Building something new, or finishing something that already exists? Write down three feelings instead of three job titles.

2. Audit what already gives you that feeling, even in the parts of your life you don't count. Look at your hobbies, your side projects, the volunteer thing you keep saying yes to, the parts of your current job you'd do for free. Multi-passionate people usually already have the answer scattered across their actual life, they just haven't been looking there because they've been looking for a job title instead.

3. Test small before you commit big. You don't need to quit anything to find out if a direction feels right. In fact, I prefer it if you didn’t. A portfolio-career approach, a few hours a week, a small project with an actual deadline, tells you more in a month than another personality quiz will tell you in a year.

4. Revisit the question on purpose, not in a panic. This is the part almost nobody does. Put a real date on the calendar, every few months, to ask "does this still feel right," before a layoff or a burnout or a birthday forces the question on you. Multi-passionate people who build in a regular check-in stop experiencing wondering what they should do with their life as a crisis and start experiencing it as maintenance.

If you want a more structured version of this same process, the How to Get Unstuck guide walks through it step by step.

[H2] What If You're Multi-Passionate and It's Making This Harder, Not Easier?

Sometimes the problem isn't a lack of direction, it's too many real directions at once, and that comes with its own specific trap: trying to niche your whole identity down to one message instead of letting each interest or project have its own smaller niche underneath a bigger umbrella. If that's closer to your actual problem, how to find your niche without picking one lane for your entire self goes deeper into exactly that distinction.

And if questioning what you should do with your life showed up recently because something disrupted the identity you'd built around your old answer - a layoff, a role change, a long quiet stretch - that's a slightly different question with its own answer: what's actually happening when your career becomes your whole identity.

I see this constantly in my coaching practice: the client isn't actually stuck for lack of options. They have too many real ones and no structure for choosing between them without treating every choice like it's permanent. Once you stop looking for the one right answer and start building a way to test and revisit smaller ones, the whole question gets a lot less frightening.

---

Common Questions About What Should I Do With My Life

Is there a quiz that tells you what to do with your life?

Not one you can trust. Personality and career quizzes can be a fun starting point, but they're built to sort you into a fixed category, and multi-passionate people don't sort cleanly into one box. Instead of a quiz, use the "name the feeling, not the job" exercise above; it does the same job a quiz promises to do, except it's built around who you actually are instead of a generic sorting algorithm.

What should I do with my life, career-wise, if I have too many options?

Stop treating "too many options" as the problem and start treating it as raw material. The fix isn't narrowing down to one option through willpower, it's testing a few small versions of your top options at once, in low-stakes ways, so real data replaces the anxiety of choosing blind. See the 4-step framework above.

What should I do with my life at 40 (or after a big life change)?

The question doesn't get easier or harder at 40, it usually just gets louder, because there's more life behind you to compare against and, often, less patience for a wrong turn. The process is the same one outlined above: name the feeling you're actually chasing, look at what already gives you that feeling, test small, and revisit on purpose. Age changes the stakes you feel, not the mechanism that actually works.

What if I do all of this and still don't know?

That usually means the anxiety, not the lack of information, is still running the show. Per the Royal Society Open Science research above, career indecision is often less about missing facts and more about the fear of getting it wrong. If you've done the exercises and you're still stuck, that's less "try another framework" and more "get a second set of eyes to help you separate the real question from the fear," which is exactly what career coaching is for.

Still stuck on what should I do with my life?

Reading a framework and actually applying it to your own tangled, multi-passionate life are two different things, especially when the question has been sitting there unanswered for a while. A second set of eyes cuts through the noise faster than another quiz or another list of "dream jobs" ever will.

Book a free 20-minute coaching clarity call, and let's actually work through what "what should I do with my life" is actually asking underneath. No pressure, no sales pitch, just a real conversation about your next right-sized step.

Book your free session

Or if you're not ready for a call yet, grab the free How to Get Unstuck guide for a structured way to start naming the feeling you're actually chasing.

What Is a Multipotentialite? (And Are You One?)

About ten years ago, I was at the World Domination Summit in Portland, one of my favorite gatherings of unconventional thinkers, when I met Emilie Wapnick, who was doing research for a book. We talked for a while. I didn't know it at the time, but that conversation would become one of the small but significant moments that helped me understand my own life differently.

Emilie was exploring an idea while I was coming to my own conclusion about the same thing: that some people don't have one true calling. That, for certain people, the relentless cultural pressure to "find your thing" and commit to it completely isn't just unhelpful. It's a misdiagnosis of how they're built. Her work eventually gave rise to the concept of the multipotentialite (what I call a creative generalist).

I had always been a generalist. I got interested in things, went deep, then moved on. I started things and didn't finish them, not because I was flaky, but because once I'd learned what I came to learn, the pull toward the next thing was real and strong. If you've ever felt this way and wondered what was wrong with you, keep reading. Because nothing is wrong with you.

What Is a Multipotentialite?

A multipotentialite is someone with many different interests, creative pursuits, and deep curiosities, and no single calling.

The term was popularised by Emilie, whose 2015 TED Talk "Why some of us don't have one true calling" has been viewed over 9 million times. It describes multipotentialites as people who thrive on variety, mastery across multiple domains, and (crucially) the connections they can make between seemingly unrelated fields.

You might also know the related terms: generalist, scanner (Barbara Sher's term from Refuse to Choose), polymath, renaissance person, multi-passionate. They all point at the same pattern: someone whose mind doesn't settle into one lane and stay there.

If you identify more with the term "generalist," you might want to take the generalist quiz here.

This is not a personality flaw. It is a personality type. And it comes with real strengths that the specialist model consistently undervalues.

Signs You Might Be a Multipotentialite

Not everyone with varied interests is a multipotentialite. The distinction is in the depth and the pattern.

You might be one if:

• You go deep, not just wide.

You don't dabble, you dive. You become skilled at things before moving on. The boredom sets in after the mastery begins, not before.

• You get restless once you've learned something.

The initial challenge is what lights you up. Once it becomes routine, the pull toward something new is almost physical. I know this feeling well. It used to make me feel like something was deeply wrong with me. Now I understand it as information.

• You make connections that other people miss.

You'll read something about psychology and immediately apply it to business. You'll see a pattern in one field that no one in another field is talking about yet. This is one of the multipotentialite's real superpowers.

• Your career history looks chaotic on paper, but it makes complete sense to you.

Each change was real. Each direction was real. It just doesn't fit on a linear CV. If this resonates, you might also recognize yourself in The Multi-Passionate Mind: When Quitting Means You're Done.

• You've been told, more than once, to just pick one thing.

And every time, it felt less like advice and more like being asked to amputate something.

• You've spent years wondering what was wrong with you.

If perfectionism and the inner critic are also part of your picture, that's not a coincidence. Many multipotentialites carry both.

The Generalist Underneath the Multipotentialite

I've always thought of myself as a generalist first. The word "multipotentialite" gave me a richer framework, but "generalist" is the older, simpler version of the same truth.

Generalists are people who move across domains, building broad knowledge, transferable skills, and the ability to synthesize across fields. In a world that increasingly rewards specialization, generalists are often told they need to narrow down. What they're rarely told is that their breadth is an asset, not a liability.

The problem I ran into, and that most generalists and multipotentialites eventually run into, is the cultural myth that choosing one thing is the mature, serious, adult version of a life. That is, until you specialize, you haven't really decided anything.

I spent years trying to fit that mold. Trying to choose one lane and stay in it. It never worked, and eventually I stopped trying. That decision, to stop apologizing for how my mind works and start designing my life around it instead, was one of the most important pivots I've made.

The Multipotentialite and Business: A Different Model

Here's something I want to say directly, because it changed how I think about my work: with the tools available now (especially AI), you can start and run multiple businesses. You don't have to choose one thing professionally any more than you have to choose one interest personally.

But, and this matters, you do have to focus on one at a time, in any given moment. Multipotentialites often confuse "I can do multiple things" with "I should do multiple things simultaneously." They're not the same.

The clearest version of this insight I've ever articulated: if you're a coach who wants three completely different types of clients, you don't have one coaching business. You have three businesses, each with its own ideal client. Understanding that distinction is powerful because it stops you from trying to market to everyone and confusing yourself and your audience in the process.

Niching down isn't about abandoning your multidimensionality. It's about being clear, in each business, about who you're serving.

How to Succeed as a Multipotentialite

The conventional career advice (specialize, niche down, pick a lane) works well for people who are built that way. For multipotentialites, following it tends to produce a life that fits like someone else's clothes. Functional, technically. Chronically uncomfortable.

Here's what tends to work better:

• Design a portfolio career.

A portfolio career means having multiple income streams, roles, or projects that together constitute your professional life. It's how many multipotentialites make their varied interests sustainable, not by choosing between them, but by building a structure that holds them all. 15 Dream Jobs for Creative Generalists is a good place to start if you're figuring out what that could look like for you.

• Let your learning agility be the asset.

You don't have to master one subject forever. You can master the process of mastering things, the ability to learn fast, synthesize across fields, and bring a fresh perspective to any room you enter. That is rare and valuable.

• Stop explaining yourself to specialists.

Most friction multipotentialites experience comes from trying to justify their path to people who don't share their wiring. You don't need their approval. You need a framework that fits you, and permission to build one.

Am I a Multipotentialite? (Quick Self-Check)

Three clearest signs:

1. You've been deeply interested in at least five different areas in your life, not variations on a theme, but actually different things.

2. Each time you followed one, it was real. You weren't avoiding commitment. You were fully in (yet, perhaps, already missing something else).

3. You've wondered, more than once, whether something is wrong with you because you can't commit to just one thing, even though you're clearly capable, driven, and passionate.

If those resonate, you're not broken. You're probably a multipotentialite.

And if you're ready to start building a career structure that fits how you're actually wired, the Portfolio Career Starter Kit is where to begin.

---

Common Questions About Multipotentialites

What is a multipotentialite?

A multipotentialite is someone with many genuine interests, passions, and creative pursuits, and no single calling. The term was popularised by Emilie Wapnick and describes people who thrive through variety, cross-domain thinking, and mastery across multiple fields.

Am I a multipotentialite?

You might be if you go deep into multiple actually different interests, feel restless after mastering something, make unexpected connections across fields, and have been told to "just pick one thing" more times than you can count.

What is the difference between a multipotentialite and a generalist?

They overlap significantly. "Generalist" describes someone who builds broad knowledge across domains rather than deep expertise in one. "Multipotentialite" adds the dimension of multiple genuine callings, not just broad knowledge, but multiple real passions. Most multipotentialites are generalists, but not all generalists identify with having multiple callings.

How to succeed as a multipotentialite?

Build a portfolio career with multiple streams, roles, or projects that hold your varied interests. Let your ability to learn quickly and synthesize across fields be your core professional asset. And be clear, in each venture, about who specifically you're serving.

Is being a multipotentialite a real thing?

Yes, as a well-documented cognitive and motivational pattern. It's not a clinical diagnosis, but it describes a recognizable group of people who learn across domains, find single-track careers deeply unsatisfying, and produce their best work at the intersection of multiple fields.

Escape the 9-to-5: How to Combine Your Many Passions into a Fulfilling Career (Without Choosing Just One!)

Why Specialization Isn’t the Only Way

Are you a multi-passionate, creative generalist who feels like you're constantly battling the world's insistence on specialization? Do you have a multitude of interests and talents, yet feel overwhelmed by thousands of ideas, always questioning which path to pursue? If you're tired of feeling "stuck" in a traditional 9-to-5 that drains your energy and kills your creativity, you're not alone. Many creative generalists struggle with the pressure to choose a single focus, fearing it will suck the life out of them. The good news is, you don't have to choose – you can learn to combine your passions into a thriving, fulfilling portfolio career.

Overcoming Overwhelm: Silencing Your Inner Critic and Finding Direction

From coaching creatives for a decade I've learned that the core challenge for many creative generalists is an internal conflict: they're passionate about many things and hate the idea of giving any of them up. This often leads to feeling overwhelmed by ideas and struggling with procrastination and mental blocks that prevent them from taking action. The inner critic often chimes in too, creating self-doubt and fear of not being good enough, or telling them that their dreams aren't real or possible. This can lead to a sense of being perpetually stuck or feeling like you keep looking in the wrong place.

Furthermore, many clients express a lack of clarity and direction when it comes to their career path or business ideas. They might be at a tricky point or crossroads in their life and career, wishing for financial independence and a business they love, but struggling to balance these big dreams with the demands of daily life.

The good news is that your multiple interests are a superpower. Your unique generalist brain operates differently from specialists, and understanding this is your first step out of the 9-to-5 trap.

Actionable Tips for Multi-Passionates: Build a Portfolio Career Without Losing Yourself

Here are some tips to help you navigate your multi-passionate journey:

• Understand Your Generalist Brain: Accept that your brain naturally wants variety and connection, unlike a specialist's. This is an asset, not a flaw. You don't have to conform to the norm of picking "one thing".

• Embrace the "Puzzle" of Your Passions: Instead of feeling scattered, view your interests as pieces of a unique puzzle waiting to be combined. The goal isn't to eliminate interests, but to weave them into a cohesive whole that makes sense for you. This can lead to a career or business that really lights you up every morning.

• Silence Your Inner Critic: That voice telling you you're not good enough or that it won't work out is often just trying to keep you safe from perceived harm or judgment. Learn to question your thoughts and regain control over your mind.

• Aim for Clarity, Not Certainty: Many wait for absolute certainty before taking action, but waiting to feel ready or confident enough is often what keeps you stuck. Focus on identifying what truly matters to you and what direction feels right, even if the entire path isn't perfectly clear.

• Take Small, Consistent Steps: Overcoming procrastination isn't about grand gestures but about consistent, small actions. This compound effect creates profound change over time and helps build momentum. Remember, action comes before the courage to act.

• Align Your Environment with Your Goals: Your surroundings can either support or hinder your progress. Make conscious choices to create a physical and mental environment that nurtures your creative pursuits and minimizes distractions. This reduces reliance on willpower, which is a finite resource anyway.

• Build Your "Glue": Identify the common thread, your unique "glue," that brings all your interests together and makes sense of your many passions. The clearer you are about this, the easier it becomes to choose what to focus on and make progress.

Through this approach, clients gain clarity and confidence, develop a strategic plan, and finally move forward and get unstuck to achieve their goals and create a truly fulfilling career and life.

The journey to a multi-passionate portfolio career is deeply personal, and often requires a different frame of mind and external guidance to find your unique answers.

Embrace your unique creative brain. You've got this!

Ready to stop feeling stuck and start combining your many passions into the fulfilling career you deserve?

In a safe and confidential space, we’ll dive into your desires and challenges, uncovering what truly drives you. Together, we’ll craft a clear path that taps into your unique talents, helping you move from overthinking to action.

Schedule your free session today and take the first step towards your bold, wild, and free future!

Book your free session

Generalists Are Poor, Specialists Are Rich - Not Anymore!

I came across this quote recently, and as a generalist who supports other generalists to become financially free, you can imagine how it stopped me in my tracks!

"Generalists are poor, specialists are rich. The family MD gets by while the surgeon is wealthy."

It’s a little phrase, but in my experience, even though it's a far-fetched myth, it can make any generalist feel bad.

For a long time, I felt out of place, juggling multiple interests and thriving in diverse areas rather than focusing on just one thing. People often told me I needed to specialize, that I started so many things, but hardly ever finished anything. But the more I lived, the more I realized that being a generalist is my biggest strength. My curiosity and wide skill set didn’t just fit into a single box - they built bridges between them.

And here’s the thing, the rapid growth of Tech and AI is making space for talents like ours. Renaissance people - those who see connections others miss - are leading innovation. We adapt quickly, think more creatively, and offer insights specialists may overlook. We’re no longer “jack of all trades, master of none”; we’re the missing piece that drives change.

Being a generalist means adopting powerful AI tools much faster than anyone else, amplifying our already impressive versatility and problem-solving skills. Click here to read more about my current favorites and how I use them:

• ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude: These LLMs provide instant insights and help me adapt to emerging trends. I love the new OpenAI Agent for research and lists, Gemini for document summaries, picture generation, and emails, and Claude for deep research.

• Jasper.ai: Streamline content creation with AI-powered efficiency. Their recent updates make them my go-to for anything content-related.

• Motionapp.com: Uses AI to optimize your schedule for project management. Efficient, even though - fair warning - sometimes a bit too rigid for a generalist like me.

• Runwayml.com: Revolutionizes creative work with generative AI.

• Adzviser.com: Embraces AI technology to revolutionize digital advertising, empowering businesses to craft more effective ad campaigns, target the right audiences, and maximize ROI.

• Gemini.com Gems: An AI cross-functional team that empowers you to achieve more than you thought possible.

• HeyGen.com: Redefines storytelling with AI-generated videos, enabling users to create engaging, high-quality content effortlessly.

• ElevenLabs.io: Transforms the way we interact with audio through advanced AI-driven voice technology, giving creators the tools to generate realistic, dynamic voiceovers and push the boundaries of audio storytelling.

• NotebookLM.google: I love the custom podcasts and summaries I can create from information and knowledge I provide, making information more accessible and digestible for on-the-go learners.

• n8n.io: My new passion, an open-source automation platform that puts the power back in your hands. With n8n, you’re not just automating tasks - you’re building a powerful AI agentic workflow that reflects your vision, your ideas, and your unique needs.

• Lovable.dev: THE vibe coding app that I use to build coachmila.ai. Talking about my new AI coach, try it out here: coachmila.ai/free-ai-life-coach-mila

It’s not just about the technology - it’s about the courage to take that first step in embodying your creative generalist nature, trusting your instincts, and believing in the value you bring to the table.

Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, to innovate, and to push boundaries. Remember, you have what it takes to create something extraordinary - so start now, and see where your unique talents and interests can take you.

Let's redefine what it means to be a generalist - and why the world desperately needs us.

Here’s to owning your beautiful mix of skills,
Murielle

Featured image representing a diverse group of creative generalists, generated using AI by Google Gemini.

Are You Ready to Thrive as a Creative Generalist?

Imagine what you could achieve if you embraced the power of your many skills, unique perspective, and the potential of AI. The world is waiting for the ideas only you can bring to life - now with the support of innovative technology.

Whether you're navigating a complex challenge or striving to realize your next big vision, having the right partner can make all the difference. That's where I come in - I specialize in helping multi-passionate individuals like you turn their talents and many interests into superpowers.

Schedule your free session!

Manifesting Your Dreams: How Your Thoughts Can Shape Your Life as a Creative Generalist (I know it's woo-woo, but it works!)

As I set out to launch a new start-up project (check out CoachMila™.ai and let me know what you think!), I can't help but reflect on the incredible journey of being a creative generalist. This term has become an anchor for many of us drawn to a diverse and multi-faceted range of passions and interests.

Have you ever felt like your curiosity includes (but isn't limited to!) writing, technology, wellness, art, or even human connection and personal growth? If so, you’re in good company! How your brain is wired is a gift, and your interests are pulling at you, offering a unique perspective and endless potential. But let’s be honest - it can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Navigating the maze of possibilities can leave us feeling stuck, unsure which path to follow or how to combine our many interests. Add to that the stories we tell ourselves about who we should be and the comparison traps we fall into, and it's no wonder creative generalists often feel paralyzed.

Here's the good news: your creative thoughts can transform your life. By rewiring your mindset and intentionally aligning your thoughts with your dreams, you can manifest a life that reflects your unique gifts as a generalist.

The Power of Manifestation: Creative Thoughts Become Things

Over the past decade, I've explored and experimented more with the concept of manifestation - not as magic (although it sure does feel like it!) but as a process rooted in the science of neuroplasticity and the power of intentional thinking. Rewiring how we think - shifting from limiting beliefs to empowering ones - can transform how we see ourselves and build our dreams. Neuroplasticity teaches us that our brains are malleable; by intentionally shifting our thought patterns over time, we can create new neural pathways that align with our goals and values.

One of my favorite ways to put it is this: “The magic is not in the wand, but rather in the thoughts of the one holding it.”

For creative generalists like you and I - who often juggle multiple passions and ideas - this process is especially powerful. It allows us to embrace our multifaceted nature while creating clarity and focusing on what truly matters.

But let’s not sugarcoat it: rewiring your brain isn’t always easy. Your sheer number of interests can lead to scattered thinking, choice overload, fear of missing out, or even analysis paralysis. Comparison might creep in as we measure ourselves against other people's external metrics, like follower counts or career milestones. When this happens, it’s important to remember that change starts within you - by deliberately shifting your thoughts (over and over again, months on end) so you can create new mental patterns that align with what you actually want.

Practices for Rewiring Your Thoughts and Manifesting Your Dreams as a Creative Generalist

So, how do we begin rewiring our brains and changing our thoughts to manifest the lives we envision? Here are a few practices I've tried in recent years that have worked really well for me:

• Mantra recitation with brain frequency music
  I've been doing this for two years daily for twenty, and it has changed my life! Start your day by reciting empowering mantras on flashcards while listening to brain-frequency music, such as 417 Hz or other healing frequencies. This practice combines the cognitive benefits of NLP and repetition with the neural alignment provided by specific sound frequencies, promoting clarity, focus, emotional balance, and even lowering anxiety. P.S. If you want my Spotify playlist, DM me, and I'll share it!

• Create space for reflection
  Spend time in solitude and stillness through meditation, journaling, or quiet walks in nature to notice recurring thought patterns and identify those that no longer serve you. This helps bring subconscious beliefs into conscious awareness, making it easier to reframe them.

• Reframe limiting beliefs
  Challenge negative self-talk by replacing it with affirmations or empowering alternatives that support growth and possibility. Since last year, I've decided to treat every negative thought as false, and again, it has transformed my life! Honestly, is the negative chatter in our heads true? And, if not, does it deserve any of our time?

• Experiment
  Try small projects related to your passions and observe what brings joy and flow. Remind yourself you're not making a decision or writing anything in stone; you're just trying something out. The benefit? These activities engage the brain's reward system, strengthening neural connections associated with creativity and fulfillment.

• Trust the process
  Rewiring takes time; trust that even setbacks are part of building new neural pathways - and thoughts. But once the new thoughts take hold, you'll see the world in a whole new light. One day, you'll wake up and realize your life is entirely different, your habits have changed, and you feel more fulfilled. And that's the true power of neuroplasticity - the ability to shape our minds and lives through intentional thoughts and actions.

Embrace Your Inner Rebel and Activist as a Creative Generalist

As a creative generalist, you're not just someone with many interests, passions, and talents. You're also likely to possess a powerful inner rebel and activist. These traits are part of what makes you unique. Your inner rebel thrives on freedom and resists being boxed into rigid structures or routines, even when those constraints come from yourself (hello promises to me I keep breaking!). Meanwhile, your inner activist has a strong sense of justice and an innate drive to stand up for what's right, whether in your personal life or the world around you (aka, you hate following directions from someone who doesn't know what they are talking about).

These qualities can be incredible assets. They nurture your creativity and push you to innovate in ways others might not. However, they can also create challenges, such as procrastination, self-sabotage, or frustration when your work or life feels misaligned with your values. Recognizing these inner forces is a big first step toward working with them effectively so they don't stand in the way of your dreams.

How Psycho-Education Can Help You Manifest Your Dreams as a Creative Generalist

Understanding how your creative brain works - and why you think and act the way you do - can be the most reality-bending thing you'll ever do. This is where psycho-education comes in. By learning about the unique wiring of your brain as a creative generalist, you can develop strategies to work with your natural tendencies rather than against them. That's why it's an important part of what I do with my clients. For example:

• Learn to collaborate with your inner rebel by giving yourself more freedom in how you approach creative projects. This might mean allowing for flexibility in your schedule or experimenting with different methods of working that feel more aligned with your energy and interests. My Freedom Planner is a great way to get started. Get your free copy here.

• Empower your inner activist by channeling your passion for justice into meaningful projects that align with your values. Whether through art, entrepreneurship, or community work, finding ways for this natural drive to express itself can bring so much joy and fulfillment.

Manifestation begins with the belief that your thoughts shape your reality. As Gandhi wisely said: "Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions…" This quote reminds me that by intentionally shaping my beliefs and thoughts, I can create an outer reality that reflects my inner transformation.

If you've ever felt like the world wasn't designed for someone like you, know there's nothing wrong with how you're wired. You're not an "ugly duckling" trying to fit into a world of specialists - you're a swan among swans in the world of creative generalists. Now spread those beautiful wings and show the world who you truly are!

No more burning out, people-pleasing, or picking just one thing.

Through my coaching, I provide psycho-education tailored specifically to creative generalists like you. Together, we'll explore how to embrace the unique way your brain is wired while building a career and life that reflects your passions, talents, and interests.

By understanding the science behind how your brain works - including its need for variety, freedom, and purpose - you'll gain tools for greater creativity, resilience, and clarity in everything you do.

Schedule your free session!

7 Tips for Successful Career Change for People with Creative Brains who Feel Stuck

Feeling stuck in your career is a common experience, especially for creatives and entrepreneurs. The unique wiring of your creative brain, with its hunger for novelty, variety, and self-expression, can actually make career stagnation even more frustrating. Boredom, burnout, underutilization of your skills, and lack of diverse challenges can quickly kill your creative spark. If you're a creative feeling stuck and yearning for a career change, read on.

Have you been daydreaming about a different path? Questioning whether you should leave your current role altogether? Perhaps you've considered taking on a new role in that other department, but you hesitate. You've heard the manager there is stiff and very structured, and you're afraid the work will be boring, and you'll quickly tire of it. Or maybe you want more and crave a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in your work.

These are common dilemmas for creatives. I know because I've been supporting creatives in getting unstuck from unfulfilling careers for the past decade, and this guide will help you navigate these questions and create a fulfilling career change for yourself.

1. Understand Why You Feel Stuck:

• Acknowledge the unique challenges: It's important to recognize that the needs of your creative brain might not be met in a traditional work environment. Repetitive tasks, rigid structures, and limited opportunities for innovation can lead to feelings of frustration and underwhelm – what I call the "creative bore-out." This is particularly true for creative generalists who thrive on variety and the ability to apply their diverse skills.

• Ask yourself:

  1. Am I experiencing burnout from overwork or bore-out from under-stimulation?

  2. Is my broad skillset fully utilized, or am I pigeonholed into a narrow role?

  3. Do I have enough autonomy and flexibility to express my creativity?

Take my client Sarah. A talented graphic designer with a wide range of creative interests who felt stuck in her role at a large agency. The work was repetitive: even though she has a masters in graphic design, the only thing she was asked to do was typesetting commercial brochures and posting about them on social media. She wasn't given the autonomy to truly express her creative vision. Through self-reflection, she realized she needed more variety and ownership over her projects to be happy. This led her to launch a successful freelance design business, where she now enjoys the freedom and flexibility to pursue projects inspiring projects she can be passionate about.

2. Envision Your Creative Career Ideal:

• Clarify your creative vision: Go beyond simply identifying your passions and interests and how they could serve you at work. Imagine your ideal creative ecosystem. What kind of projects excite you? What impact do you want to make? What level of autonomy and flexibility do you need to thrive? For creative generalists, this might involve a portfolio career or a role that allows cross-disciplinary collaboration, which, luckily, is more and more in demand today!

Consider Mark, an entrepreneur who felt trapped in his own business. While he had built a successful company, the day-to-day operations had become monotonous and sucked up all of his time, and he longed to return to his true passion: computers and bringing knowledge about them to the world. By clarifying his creative vision, he was able to restructure his business, delegate routine tasks, and reclaim his time to work on the new chapter in his entrepreneurial life. Watch out, world, something incredible is coming!

3. Explore Paths to a Fulfilling Career Change:

Sometimes, career change means staying in your job but redefining it or transitioning to a different role within the same company or structure. If you're feeling stuck or unfulfilled in your current job, consider talking to your manager about taking on new projects or responsibilities that align with the needs of your creative brain. You could also look for courses and training opportunities to expand your skillset and open new career paths.

• Reimagine your current role: Can you be more creative in your current job? Explore opportunities to craft a new job, propose new initiatives, or look for projects that align with your passions.

• Embrace the entrepreneurial spirit: If your current environment can't accommodate your creative needs, consider alternative paths. Freelancing, consulting, or launching your own business might offer the freedom and flexibility you crave. This can be especially appealing for creative generalists like many of my clients, who thrive on variety and autonomy.

• Ask yourself:

  1. Can I negotiate more autonomy or variety within my current role?

  2. Is it time to explore alternative career paths or entrepreneurial ideas?

4. Cultivate Your Creative Community:

• Connect with other creatives: Surround yourself with a supportive network of creatives who understand the unique challenges and joys of the creative journey and living with a creative brain. Share ideas, collaborate on projects, and find inspiration in each other's work.

5. Invest in Creative Growth:

I've witnessed the power of creative investment many times. My client Maria, a writer and poet, felt stuck in her career as a communications manager for a big soda brand. She decided to invest in a writing workshop focused on a new genre and to attend slam poetry contests. This changed everything for her. Her passion for writing led to a successful career change as a full-time freelance writer and published poet.

6. Take Action to Get Unstuck:

• Break free from fear, worry, and "just thinking about it": Creatives often struggle with self-doubt and perfectionism, which create difficult-to-escape cycles of overthinking and worry. Don't let these fears hold you back. Take the leap, experiment, and embrace the messy, imperfect uniqueness of the creative process.

• Ask yourself:

  1. What small step can I take to move closer to my creative goals today? Once you have it, DM me on Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know!

  2. How can I overcome my fear of failure and embrace creative risk-taking?

7. Embrace Unconventional (Creative!) Strategies for Career Change:

• Side Hustle Exploration: A side hustle can be a playground for your creativity, allowing you to experiment with new ideas and build a portfolio while maintaining financial stability from your day job. Nothing is set in stone, so as long as you keep costs low and have fun while developing your idea, you have nothing to lose. And remember, you can always change your mind!

• Creative Sabbatical: Take a break from your routine to recharge your creative batteries, travel, explore new interests, and return to work with a fresh perspective. It doesn't need to be a month or a year. Even a few hours or a long walk can be enough! I've had one-day sabbaticals that gave me the best ideas for my business.

For creatives, entrepreneurs, and creative generalists in particular, feeling stuck in your career can be exactly what you need to finally get up and change.

By understanding and focusing on the unique needs of your creative brain, embracing self-reflection, and taking bold action, you can get unstuck and unlock new levels of fulfillment, purpose, and creative expression. Now, get off the couch and take that first step!

Ready to get unstuck and create a career that will keep your creative brain happy and engaged?

I can help. As a career and business coach for creatives, I am dedicated to helping you bring more joy, purpose, and success into your career while giving you the tools to understand your creative brain better.

You deserve fulfilling and sustainable work that allows you to thrive creatively and financially. Are you ready?

Schedule your free session!

How to Think Yourself Into a Brand New and Magnificent Life

Sometimes, when life is going just right, the only thing we do is wait for it to go wrong. We anticipate and wait for that so-called other shoe to drop. Right now, so many great things are happening in my life and at work, and the fruits of seeds I planted many months or years ago are finally coming out. This reminded me of how accustomed we are to expecting bad things - not good ones - to happen; at least, I know I used to be like that. And honestly, sometimes I still am.

Just last week, with everything feeling right - the sun shining, my new start-up off to a great start, friends and family all in reasonably good health and happy - there it was: the undeniable and oh-so-familiar feeling of doom looming. Something had to go wrong! Everything was going too well, and I was simply feeling too good!

Feeling like doom is coming has been my experience for the biggest part of my life. I know it's the same for many of my clients. Before starting my journey of transformation and anxiety-free living, I was so used to it that even when things were going well, my brain would actively search for something to be worried or unhappy about.

But here's the thing: life is not meant to be lived in fear and worry. We are not meant to expect the worst constantly.

We're meant to live in joy and abundance, regardless of our circumstances. It took me a long time to truly understand this. Still, I'm now at a place where I can confidently say that we have the power to choose how we experience life and that we are manifesting our existence and everything in it every moment of every day.

We may not be able to control what happens around us, but we can control how we react. Even more so, we have a say in what we attract into our lives and how we shape our reality. I shared a lot about this in my book "Get Unstuck!" because it's so important: our thoughts create our reality.

Think about it for a minute.

People who don't have the negative thoughts you or I have don't have the fears either! Can you imagine?

I heard a lawyer share his story recently. When asked how he chose law as his field, he shared how he had always loved conflict. It felt like a game to him, how good he was at it, and how when someone disagreed with him, he enjoyed going into the conversation to get them to see he was right. As someone who has always dreaded conflict, I lost my breath there for a second. I NEVER imagined anyone could enjoy conflict, let alone be good at it. But when I thought about it a bit more, I realized that - of course - to be a good lawyer, not being afraid of conflict is sort of an asset :)

Again, it's all about our thoughts. So, I imagined what my life would be like if I didn't have any negative thoughts about conflict but looked at it from the perspective of a conflict-loving lawyer.

And, you know what, it changes EVERYTHING!

It was a profound moment of realization for me. Of course, I already knew that changing my thoughts changed my life, but this thing called growth is like an onion. It keeps on giving! When you think you've reached the last layer, it turns out there's another one underneath. So, I continue peeling my onion every day - in a positive way, of course!

I've also learned that the power of our thoughts affects our lives and radiates outward to those around us. Have you ever noticed how being around someone who is constantly negative and complaining can bring your mood down? On the other hand, being around someone positive and uplifting can instantly boost your energy and mindset.

So why not choose to be that person? Why not channel the thoughts of the person you want to be in this world? Changing your thoughts can transform your experiences profoundly.

Fear, doubt, and self-limiting beliefs are the number one blocks for many creatives and entrepreneurs. But what if we approached challenges with curiosity and excitement instead, just like lawyers approach conflict? What if we could see difficulties not as insurmountable obstacles but as opportunities for growth and learning?

What if, when everything is going well, we invite more good vibes into our lives and believe even better things are coming rather than waiting for the other shoe to drop?

For me, this shift in mindset was empowering. It felt like a door opening to a world where I had control over my life. I began to see that my thoughts were like seeds - when I planted positive, empowering beliefs, they blossomed into actions aligned with my goals and dreams. My current life is a testament to this. When I realized how powerful my thoughts were, I started to manifest a reality where fear didn’t dictate my decisions, and possibilities were endless.

You possess this power, too. It's within each of us to reshape our thoughts and, consequently, our lives. By consciously choosing to cultivate thoughts that are good for you and not entertaining the ones that are keeping you small, anxious, or fearful, you can unlock your true potential and create a life that not only meets but exceeds your wildest dreams.

Imagine the freedom and joy of a life unburdened by unnecessary fears and doubts. Imagine being like that lawyer. You have the power to make this your reality.

Here are five tips to help you shift your mindset toward one that is empowering and limitless:

1. Challenge your negative thoughts. The first and most crucial part of changing your negative thinking patterns is noticing and challenging your negative thoughts. When a negative thought pops into your mind, ask yourself if it is based on fact or fear. In 99% of the cases, it will be, so consciously choose to replace it with a more positive and empowering belief.
   An example from my little mantra flashcards (see point two below) is the recurring belief that I held for the longest part of my life (which caused me to choose horrible partners to be with) that I must work to deserve attention or love. I have successfully changed that belief, and it has transformed my life. On my mantra cards (which I still read at least three times a day while listening to a manifestation playlist from Spotify), it says about this belief:
   "I deserve attention and love just because I am. I am enough just as I am. I don't need to work for attention or love. Love is not equal to work. I am lovable just as I am. I don't need to do anything to deserve love."  Repeating these mantras every day for years now has totally changed what I believe about myself and how lovable I am.

2. Create mantra flashcards and read them multiple times every day.  Mantra flashcards are small notes you write to yourself with positive affirmations and empowering beliefs. These could be simple phrases like "I am enough," "I am worthy," or "I am capable." You can add personal mantras that speak to your specific fears or doubts. The key is to read these cards multiple times a day, especially when you're in a negative headspace. This will help to reprogram your subconscious mind and reinforce positive beliefs about yourself.
   I have cards for all aspects of my life and thoughts I want to change: my life, my relationships, my work, my goals... I take them with me everywhere and truly enjoy reading them; it's like a tiny meditation multiple times a day that reminds me who I really am and where I'm going. Powerful stuff!

3. Surround yourself with positivity. This can include the people you spend time with, the media you consume, and even your living space. Make an effort to surround yourself with positive and uplifting people who support and encourage you. Follow social media accounts that promote self-love and acceptance, and unfollow those that make you feel like crap. Surround yourself with items that bring you joy and make you feel good about yourself, whether it's a favorite quote or a piece of art that speaks to your soul.
   By creating a positive environment and having an eye for what I find beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, I am now constantly reminded of my worth and value as a person and the great way I know I can show up for myself and care for my well-being. I surround myself with the life I want to live. And you know what? That's how I create it!

4. Practice gratitude daily. Take a few moments each day (early morning and late night for me) to reflect on what you are grateful for. This can help shift your focus from lack and negativity to abundance and positivity. Repeated daily, it will change your mindset!
   Make sure these are not just little trivial things (although they can be); add in the real stuff too, like, in my case, "I'm grateful that my friend Lena, who is a badass feminist, teaches me how to be a badass woman myself" or "I'm so grateful for the freedom I created for myself to be able to work from anywhere" or "I'm so grateful for that new pink bikini that fits me so well." Yes, I hear you. What if there's nothing for which to be grateful? Well, sorry to break it to you, but that's just a load of BS. There is always, ALWAYS, something to be thankful for. You should write it down even more diligently if you find it hard to find.

5. Visualize your desired outcome. It's essential to bring as many of your dreams and desires into your life now, even if not everything has manifested yet.
   I take time every day to visualize myself living the life of my dreams. It's such an enjoyable experience, and it almost feels real. I go into a lot of details about where I am, what I'm doing, how I'm feeling, who I'm with, and even what I'm wearing. This practice helps me stay focused on my goals and motivates me to take action toward making them a reality. It's like creating a roadmap for your life; the best part is that you have complete control over it.

Bonus tip: REMEMBER TO TAKE ACTION! Ultimately, it's all well and good to bathe in the feel-good hormones from imagining your dream life, but you must take action to create a mindset that empowers you and a life that fills you with joy and gratitude. Eventually, you have to go out and do something to materialize it!

Shifting your mindset takes time and effort, but the results are well worth it. Your life will be completely transformed, and you will experience things beyond your wildest dreams. Trust me, it works!

Feeling stuck in your current situation?

You're not alone. Many professionals have the same feelings of uncertainty and self-doubt.

Imagine waking up every day excited about your future, no longer paralyzed by fear or self-sabotaging thoughts. It's time to break free and start living the life you've always dreamed of.

Schedule your free session!