As early as I can remember I have been good at many different things. This might sound like the most ideal situation to be blessed with but just like everything else, versatility has its challenges and shadows to contend with.
I titled this blog, The Struggle To Identify because this has been a reality of mine for quite some time and I feel the experience over the years is relatable for many.
I have had very broad and expansive experiences in my 30.5 years here which is characteristic of someone with significant Sagittarius placements in their chart.
The struggle to identify arose due to the fact that, because you can go in many different directions (and find success), you come to somewhat of a stagnation as a result of the multitude of choices available.
Paradoxically, the vast amount of choices in front of you actually leads to the struggle to make and commit to a definitive path. Instead of the pursuit of a singular, worthwhile goal, two possible outcomes take place - either all of them are pursued simultaneously or none at all.
This concept is related to what Barry Schwartz summarized in his book, The Paradox of Choice. Where his writing on the subject differs is in its focus on these dynamics and how they manifest in the marketplace as opposed to its presence and influence in career choice.
Nonetheless, he makes mention of a very prevalent experience for many - making a definitive choice and sticking to it. This is especially true for those born under the sign of the scales, it can truly be challenging to make decisions at times due to the innate ability to understand many different perspectives and viewpoints while seeing the pros/cons to every possible angle.
The challenge to identify a definitive path typically leads to being spread too thin. Where one would normally strike out in a specific direction, thus gaining momentum and progress overtime, someone in this position can find themselves back at square one in several attempts to explore their many different abilities.
To provide insight into my personal experiences with feeling stalled in an attempt to go in many different directions at once - I’ve been everything from a Real Estate Agent, to a Personal Trainer. I’ve even spent time in the military; and that’s after pursuing education in Computers early on in college, which was cut short to pursue a career as a Physical Therapist. Just reading the many different directions I’ve gone in makes my head spin. All of these things came fairly easy to me and all have manifested up to a certain point in my life.
When one starts and stops or pursues several paths over time, they end up spinning their wheels. Perpetually in the beginning stages. Unable to establish long-term stability and success.
Identifying a specific path seems to be a challenge for many people in general, even if they wouldn’t classify themselves as being “good at many things” and this challenge is compounded under the conditions I speak on here.
As I mature in my understanding of life, I have come into the realization of the importance of making decisions. Choosing. It’s difficult to identify yourself as something when you’re constantly in motion moving toward the next whim that catches our interest.
On the flip side, I do believe there are many benefits to being versatile. The life experience gained along the way is unmatched. Having learned a considerable amount of information on various topics. Much wisdom has been gained from taking several different paths.
Making choices can be difficult, but what can be just as, if not even more difficult, is finding yourself feeling stagnant from never having made one at all. Where there was once an abundance of options to choice from becomes a field of untapped potential, lost in indecision.
At this stage in my life, I am far more disciplined and realistic about my choices. I have committed to my work as an Entrepreneur and artist and have been able to see much progress along the way as I approach 1 year in business.
I wouldn't change my path because of the experiences I’ve had, but I most certainly recommend those still looking to identify the path for them to contemplate whether what you are choosing is truly for you. Will you still be committed a year, two, or three years from now? When we move off impulse alone, we can easily find ourselves changing course after the initial inspiration has worn off and in the world of establishing a living for one’s self, this can be counterproductive to progress and success.