Questions You Were Meaning to Ask Me

Hey everyone! So I realize I’ve spent a lot of time talking about how we can be both productive and take care of ourselves, and I’ve shared a little bit about work and traveling, but a lot of you have questions. Like, What do you actually do for work? And, Being multi-passionate is nice and all, but it can’t always be that easy, right?

So I figured I’d share a snippet of the conversation I had with Joi who is also a multi-passionate powerhouse. She asked some really thoughtful questions over on her blog, so I’m sharing my answers here. I’m also re-wording her questions to ones that you might have been wondering.

What do you actually do for work?

I’m a family doctor (which is the best job in the world)! I’m also a writer, traveler, and lover of languages. And as a black woman, I’m passionate about advocacy, self-advocacy and taking up space even when we’re uncomfortable doing so.

Have you always had multiple passions or did you start with one thing and then branch out?

So, I’ve always had more than one passion, but I’ve only recently stepped into that. In the past, I think the multidimensionality in my interests wasn’t necessarily seen as a good thing. A lot of that was my own thinking, but a lot of that also had to do with the messaging I got about specializing and really becoming “an expert” in one thing. 

What’s your favourite thing about being multi-passionate?

Way back in my undergraduate degree, I had difficulty justifying why I was majoring in a science and double minoring in French and Spanish. (Side note: you don’t have to explain your multi-passionatism). 

But recently, as I’ve begun to practice in Toronto, which is such a beautifully diverse city, having both of those interests has been so useful. 

I’ve been able to practice medicine in English, French and Spanish, which is a huge asset to new immigrants who may otherwise feel ostracized in an anglophone health care system.

Having more than one passion also makes problem-solving simpler. If you can look at things from more than one lens, you’re in such an amazing position to provide creative solutions to very specific problems.

Okay great… but what’s your biggest struggle with having multiple passions?

Being multi-passionate can be overwhelming at times. I think it’s important to have a toolbox of cognitive shifts that will help when you feel like you’re dropping the ball. A lot of times, one of your passions (like medicine) is extremely time-consuming, and it can make you feel like you’re not doing the best with your other ones.

What strategies or systems do you have in place when those struggles arise?

if I’m overwhelmed, I’ll use my Focus Planner to refresh on what my passions are and which of those I can hold space for. And then I’ll let go of the guilt of taking a break. I use this PDF to get really clear on what I can and can’t make time for.  Joi also has some amazing brain dump and prioritize worksheets which I love because they allow you to get out of your head and back into action.

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And that’s a wrap! Chatting with Joi was so much fun because she really gets it. You don’t have to focus on one thing alone; you really can do well with many.

If you’re anything like me and her, then you’ll love what’s up next on the blog: a whole bunch of reasons to stop doubting yourself and start truly believing that it’s okay to have more than one passion. See you in a couple of weeks with 10 reasons to ditch the guilt and embrace your multiple passions!

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