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The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One

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"Renaissance Souls love nothing better than to take on a new problem or situation and then dig into...until we master the challenge we've set for ourselves. And then, with fresh enthusiasm, we move on to another passion. We are lucky people who, if left to our own devices, are never bored for long." - Margaret Lobenstine

Do you resist confining yourself to just one hobby or career? Are bookstore and libraries candy stores to you? Do friends suggest that you become a contestant on game shows because you know "something about everything"? Are you capable of becoming passionately excited about a wide variety of subjects? Do you find yourself interrupting yourself, dropping one task to pick up another before it's done?

If any of these descriptions sound like you, then you're probably a Renaissance Soul. Unlike the Mozarts of the world who always knew what they wanted to do in life or enjoyed sticking to one discipline, Renaissance Souls are the Ben Franklins of the world. That is, we have many concurrent interests and the idea of settling on "just one" (or even two) makes us nervous and nauseous.

Most of the world operates on the idea that "settling on a career" or "getting focused" by steadily climbing the corporate ladder over decades is the "right"-and secure-way to live. However, for a Renaissance Soul to attempt to squeeze in such a confining mindset is almost like a living death.

Despite a long, proud history of inventiveness and cultural influence among the ranks of Renaissance Souls, parents, teachers, and the social climate at large insist that we are somehow defective. This often leaves us feeling discouraged, frustrated, and confused. Why are we like this? Why can't we be "normal", and limit our passions, hobbies, and career endeavors to "just one"?

Fortunately for us, author and life-coach Margaret Lobenstine has written a book especially for Renaissance Souls, offering encouragement, validation, and practical tools for living a fulfilling, joyful life. The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One is an incredible resource that explains the difference between choice and focus, shows how to thrive on many interests without feeling scattered, and equips individuals with powerful life-design strategies.

Lobenstine also illustrates how Renaissance Souls can transform a day job so that it carries dreams forward, learn a new field without going back to school, and get paid for your passions. However, even if money isn't your goal and you just want to be able to explore, engage, and enjoy your multitude of interests, the author provides wonderful exercises for getting the most out of your pursuits.

The section called The Ice-Cream Sampler alone is worth the price of the book! Lobenstine-also a Renaissance Soul-can sympathize with the dilemma that "choosing has often meant losing". However, she helps her fellow Renaissance Souls learn an invaluable tool called Focal Point Strategy. By using the analogy of sampling dozens of ice cream flavors "four flavors at a time", the author demonstrates the mechanics and benefits of focusing your interests. Focusing, she asserts, brings more, not less, to a world of possibilities-offering variety with clarity and concentration. She writes:

"I can't emphasize enough what a powerful difference it makes in a Renaissance Soul's life to feel free to focus on three or four or five things for now, and let others wait until later. We simply can't juggle dozens of interests at once. And yet, there is a kind of abundance that flows from establishing a tighter focus."

As one who has had many interests throughout life-some of which I've explored in depth for years-I'm all too familiar with having *so* many interests, that paralysis sets in when trying to decide what to do next. I've been a minister, a teacher, a counselor, an interior decorator, a credit solicitor, a webmaster, and free-lance writer. I'm a stay at home Mom who home schools, am a professional Tarot reader, and pursue many intellectual and spiritual interests on the side. I was surprised and comforted to learn that there are many people out there like me and we have a name: Renaissance Souls.

Another invaluable tool from the book is the "Five from Fifty" exercise where you decide your five main values right now. According to Lobenstine:

"People who aren't fully committed to the values that their activities represent sputter through life, pulled in one direction by their commitments and in another by their spirits."

Not only does she show Renaissance Souls how to choose their five most important values, but she also demonstrates how to run activities through the filter of "Whose values are these? Mine or someone else's?"

One of my personal study projects, lasting years, has been personality systems. One of these systems-the Enneagram-demonizes Type 7's for not focusing, claiming that we have a multitude of interests because we're trying to run from or hide extreme emotional pain. Hogwash! I bought that silly lie for several years and finally realized it just isn't true. A Type 7's salvation isn't being like a Type 5, hunkering down and choosing "just one" focus to exhaust ad infinitum until we transform ourselves into a boring, single-minded geek.

I came across The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One quite by accident while in large chain bookstore. In fact, I was on my way out of the bathroom-heading towards the coffee counter before leaving-when I saw this book on a display. After I read the dust jacket, I KNEW this was a book written for people just like me...and bought it immediately.

While the entire book is a gold mine for Renaissance Souls, the Focal Point Strategy has been invaluable for me. I now realize that I can pursue all my interests-just not all at once. This strategy has freed up amazing amounts of time and energy, helping me to get the most out of what I've chosen to do and curing me of "analysis paralysis". If you're a Renaissance Soul or a Type 7 in the Enneagram, this book is an incredible resource for staying on track, sucking the marrow out of life (and your interests), using your unique personality to your advantage, and celebrating the spirit of the Renaissance Soul.

-- Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot

After years of being neglected by all the "Find Your True Work"-oriented books, courses, and career counselors, we "Renaissance souls" now seem to have an embarrassment of riches. I read this book and Barbara Sher's "Refuse to Choose" in succession. Both are well worth reading, and, while I prefer Sher's book for several reasons, I strongly urge anyone who recognizes themselves as a "Renaissance soul" to read both books.

Lobenstine has had a typical "Renaissance soul" career herself, as well as working with many others, so she's able to recount many encouraging and helpful anecdotes. For those of us who have grown frustrated with the "follow your passion" approach to career planning because we can't pin ourselves down to only one passion, it's great to know that we're not alone. And as her title implies, throughout much of human history, having multiple interests was considered an asset rather than a sign of "immaturity" or "inability to focus."

Her exercises (especially the "values" one) are very useful for self-understanding. She offers good advice about how to use your various skills and interests in the work world -- by finding (or creating) an "umbrella" job that covers a range of interests, or by being a serial monogamist in several fields, or by taking a J.O.B. that enables you to further your passions without locking you into an uncongenial career path. Finally, she provides a helpful reading list (although, having read many of the books on it, I've learned that most of them promote a "follow your bliss" viewpoint that assumes that everyone has a single passion in life).

I have some quibbles:
1. Lobenstine seems to feel that all "Renaissance souls" are fundamentally alike, so they'll all find the same type(s) of job congenial. (Sher does better with this.)
2. Expecting your family to support your unconventional approach to jobs may or may not work, depending on your family. (My parents adhered to the Depression-era ethic of Never Quit a Good Job, Even If It's Destroying Your Soul -- which, by the way, literally killed my father -- so for me to expect their support would have been an exercise in frustration.)
3. The "reverse flow chart" approach was, as far as I'm aware, first laid out by Barbar Sher in *Wishcraft* in the 1980's. While Lobenstine mentions the book, she doesn't credit Sher specifically for this exercise. It's probably an innocent oversight, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Are you one of those people with a large and shifting set of interests? Never quite took to heart those well-meaning admonitions to settle down and focus on one thing? Now you can shuck the dilettante label and become, in Margaret Lobenstine's inspired phrase, a Renaissance Soul.

She's written a terrific book, practical, useful, easy to read. It identifies and serves people who refuse to be slotted by what they do to pick up a paycheck. After reassuring us that it's not aberrant or self-destructive to be among the multi-focused, Lobenstine shows us how to hone our many interests into four or so major Focal Points. But which four? you ask. Use the Ice Cream Sampler exercise to get past the fear of making forever commitments or the overwhelmed feeling that you have too many options. Once you've identified your Focal Point pursuits, Lobenstine shows you how to link up with people who can help you move forward. She's especially good on turning your day job from a soul-numbing slog into a springboard to advance your interests, and on networking your way to the knowledge you need to pursue your passions.

The book lays out proven techniques for organizing your time and juggling multiple interests. I particularly liked the reverse flowchart, which disassembles potentially overwhelming goals - starting an import/export business, for example - into smaller, actionable steps. The chapter devoted to younger Renaissance Souls contains useful ideas on managing college course loads and breaking into the work world. The final chapters include a sensitive look at psychological obstacles that can slow us up, and strategies for climbing over these self-created walls.

Margaret Lobenstine is the new patron saint of those whose life jounney compels them to wander down many different paths.

Do you dream of being a successful teacher, writer, world traveler, and parent, all at the same time? Maybe you dream of being an artist and an organic farmer? If you are having trouble figuring out how to wear all the hats of your interests and remain productive, happy and sane - then this book is for you. Although you will find a few soul-searching exercises in Margaret Lobenstine's book, you will find much more practical advice and concrete examples of how to start living a life of many passions without feeling overwhelmed. My personal favorite from this book has to do with focal point calendar blocks, where you block out a set amount of time each week on your calendar to do one of your *focal points*, or current passions that you are focusing on. This blocked out time is not specifically assigned to any project -- you choose which project to work based on how you feel at that time. What a freeing thought! You don't have to work on project A right now if project B is calling. Each project gets worked on in due time, and each gets the proper amount of energy from you that it deserves. This is just one of many easily applicable bits of advice you will find in this book.

I also do recommend that you read Barbara Sher's book *Refuse to Choose* on this same topic. Barbara's book does have many soul-searching exercises that complement the practical advice in Margaret Lobenstine's book.

I have spent quite some time trying to decide on one "forever" career and pick between my numerous intrests and hobbies becasue I just didn't have time for them all. I have read several standard time management books, and set up SMART goals and five year plans, only to change my mind or be unable to follow through till the end, mostly because I either lost interest or couldn't imagine doing this thing or that "forever." The last few months I have been unable to do much of anything; I have finally earned my Master's and have tons of new-found spare time, but couldn't decide what to fill it with, mostly because there were so many interesting things to fill it with! So I had been stuck in indecision and been extremely "unproductive." Then I found this book!!! This book has been helpful in so many ways, none the least because I finally know there isn't anything wrong with me! There are plenty of others like me who have so many interests that we just don't know where to begin. If this sounds like you, I would highly reccommend this book. Everything else I have to say has been covered by other reviewers, but I do want to add that after figuring out my focal points, I have been able to come up with much more creative and enjoyable ways of meeting my goals then I ever did trying to make everything a SMART goal. Enjoy- I did!

Anyone who has three books going at the same time, who hates the thought of constraining him- or herself to just one "thing," or who gets swallowed up for hours in a bookstore will find themselves in this book.

Lobenstine does an excellent job of describing the "renaissance" personality and helping people who fall in this category to accept and embrace their "diagnosis." She offers concrete ways of working with -- instead of against -- our personality traits.

I love feeling like I'm not alone, and I appreciated some of the concrete suggestions, but I finished this book feeling a little lost as to what my next steps should be. How do I select my four (or five) focal areas when it's nearly impossible for me to choose ANYTHING? I would have appreciated a more structured approach to winnowing -- rather than narrowing -- my choices.

Overall, though, full of tons of great inspiration, if a little light on the practical side.

This is a must-read for anyone who thinks they may be a renaissance soul, and possibly even if you're not! It answered all the questions I had about my future, and now, rather than dreading it, I'm actually looking forward to the many exciting experiences and opportunities it will bring. Margaret offers many creative tips and tools for pursuing all our interests, and getting where we want to be, while remaining focused and energised. She likens the renaissance soul's interests to an ice cream shop full of hundreds of flavours. It's so hard to choose: they'll either close before you finally pick one, or else you'll get sick trying them all. Yet, if the shop offered a four-flavour sampler, and you could mix and match the flavours every day, it would be no problem. So she suggests that renaissance souls choose four, or at most five, interests to focus on at a particular time, and set up a focal point notebook. One of her tools is called a J-O-B, which is a temporary job or volunteer position that furthers one or more of your focal points. For example, if one of your focal points involves travel, find a job at a place that offers free or discounted airline tickets (perhaps with an airline.) If you want to produce documentaries, perhaps even an entry-level job at a place that deals with video equipment would be helpful. Or if one of them is knitting or sewing or reading, find a job that offers a lot of down-time (a box-office attendant, for example). Or you might choose a job where you could network with the people who could help you further your focal points, or give you recommendations for the position you want. You can feel energised knowing that your J-O-B is furthering your focal points, and if you wish, eventually, making your focal points and your income source one and the same. She offers many other creative tools in this book: advice on how to solve problems when you don't know how to get from A to B, training without going to grad school, finding a career that encompasses all your interests, time management tips geared to renaissance souls, and others that let us pursue our many interests without being condemned to a life of poverty. She offers advice on how to solve problems when you don't know how to get from A to B, how to get training without going to grad school, time management tips for renaissance souls, and many creative ideas for pursuing our many interests while not being condemned to a life of poverty. She offers many real-life examples and role models, which for me was one of the best parts, since there are so few role models in this world for people like us. I've read a couple career-oriented books -- including Barbara Scher's Wishcraft -- but they didn't quite cater to people with more than one single bliss. This is a wonderful and unique book that does just that, and what's more, clearly makes the case that you don't have to choose, and the journey can be FUN! Very good bibliography, too -- I always like that.

This book helped me to understand myself so much better. Some parts of me that others and even myself had considered negative attributes, turn out to be good things. The Focal Points part was especially helpful, helping me to take the 3 zillion things I'm interested in down to 5 to concentrate on. I have have had a little sign on my refrigerator for years that says, " Not all who wander are lost." This book helped me feel very validated and feel better about myself. I'm very thankful to the author, Margaret Lobenstine. Thank you so much.

Thanks to M. Lobenstine I no longer feel there is something wrong with me. I cried, I laughed, and I screamed with joy when I read the book. I loved every word, every chapter, but the time management chapter was very enlightning. I do not have to read any more self help books with the intention of changing my whole personality etc. I believe I no longer need any more self help books. I am fine as I am.(Strange new feeling!). I can embrace my Renaissance Soul and start living. Thank you M. Lobenstine. You are a gift to humanity. Everybody, this book is worth its weight in gold.

Rita A. Haugland (Norway)

The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One is an absolutely wonderful book. I have been searching for a book like this for years. Lobenstine explains and validates what it means to be a renaissance soul which is outstanding for someone who thought for years she just needed to settle for one path. But Lobenstine also gives clear and practical advice on focusing on several interests and how to achieve your objectives. This book is a must-read for anyone who has varied interests. Even if you are happy in your career but feel split, distracted, and/or out of sinc in other areas then get this book.