Have you ever stared at one too many open tabs on your desktop, not knowing what it was you were doing in the first place? 🖥
Multipassionate living can feel the same way. You might’ve started working on one passion, which led to another and later branched out into another. After a while, you might wonder “How did I even get here?”
In this second installment of The Multipassionate Project, we’ll look at multipasionate living as a sacred space we create for ourselves. And the best way to protect this space is knowing our intentions and letting them act as our compass (or true North) in our journey.
Haley Pettit shares her thoughts on how we can find our way.
The Creative: Haley M. Pettit
Haley Pettit is a writer, planner, and crafter from Portland, Oregon. Like Mike Mavilia, I first met Haley through a #StorySocial Twitter chat. (Yay, internet!) After finding out we were in the same area, we met up for coffee to discuss all things writing. And just as quickly as we became friends online, we became good friends IRL.
On her blog Whatever Bright Things, we see how much potential Haley sees in the world and the vibrancy in her outlook. When we first met, she was not only launching brilliant articles but also designing desktop themes every month for her readers to download and enjoy. Since then, she’s partnered with Big Picture Classes to release two planner courses and has launched a papercrafting collection on Etsy.
Plus, she’s drafting and revising her two novels — Life by the Stars and Lena and the Crashing Wave (Otherwise Known as Dougie).
Yet all her projects are grounded in the topics that truly interest her. Rather than rushing into new trends, she finds what suits her before actively following ’em. Here two truths emerged in our conversation.
Sparked From Within
As a multipassionate, Haley identifies with complex concepts that combine different ways of thinking, particularly with projects mixing analytical / scientific thought with artistry. Like writing and music, for example. Where measures allow a listener to enjoy the composer’s melody and steady beats conjure unique imagery for a reader.
In this way, writing has grown to be a sacred space where she could make the story in her mind more real on paper. Although her novels are inspired by outside forces, the weaving of the story became her secret place. She says,
“No one else had to see it to make it valuable.”
The same applies for all multipassionate creatives. The desire must come from within and be self-validating. When we begin to assign value to our work, that is when the work becomes valuable. No external opinions needed. If you like what you’re doing, you make the craft priceless for you. Even if an end product is nowhere in sight.
Driven by Intention
As we create for ourselves, we will attract others to our work. One of the most rewarding experiences Haley has had as a creative was witnessing readers connect to the ideas found on her most popular article “Pinterest for Writers.” The article encapsulates the heart of multipassionate living — using different passions to enrich others. By combining visuals with the written word and sharing this through WBT, like-minded creatives gained first-hand insight on multipassionate practices. Even if they didn’t know that that was happening.
For our work to have meaning, intention must drive our choice to pursue multiple passions. Otherwise, we’re just tinkering with hobbies. When we have a reason to create, we have a reason to grow in our crafts. And growth doesn’t end after writing the closing sentence or applying the final stroke to the painting or strumming the last chord. It has to go beyond that. Haley’s encouragement for others in the middle of creation:
“Don’t prove; be true.”
Allow your work to speak for itself and speak to you. If your art has no purpose for you, it’ll have nothing for your audience. Give yourself the space to enjoy what you’re creating, to pass on this joy to others. If joy and intention drive your art, your audience will be drawn to it as you share it with the world.
You may not know where you’re going. But knowing where your true North lies will make the journey worthwhile.
Haley Pettit is a fan of Pop Tarts, boy bands, teen movies, and fashion magazines. With a passion for creativity and positivity, you can find something crafty and bright in everything she does. Learn more about her work at http://WhateverBrightThings.com. You can also find her on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.
Let’s Chat
When you think of a creative who’s made their art a sacred space, who comes to mind? Give ’em a shoutout in the comments!
Upcoming:
Hint of Jam’s newest course “Self Management & Organization for Scatterbrained Creatives” is now open for enrollment! These lessons are for creatives working on making space for the important things in life. Starting January 29, 2018, lessons will be uploaded section by section with a live workshop every other week to accompany ’em.
The first 25 students to enroll get into the course at absolutely no cost to them. Sign up now by clicking here or on the image below.
