Your Topics, Multiple Stories – And the Beauty of Being More Than Just One Thing
Sometimes, when life gets quiet, you stop and think, “Am I everything I hoped I’d be? Should I be doing more? Or maybe even less?” These questions don’t come with answers neatly folded like an instruction manual. Instead, they arrive wrapped in messy, beautiful layers we uncover as we live, laugh, and make sense of it all.
For years, I believed I needed to define myself by just one thing. Choose a path. Stick to it. Wear a single label like a badge of honor. But life has a funny way of teaching us lessons. Nothing about us is truly so simple. We’re all so much more than just a single story. Each of us is a collection of vibrant chapters, heartfelt essays, and scribbled notes, steeped in laughter, heartbreak, mistakes, and hard-earned truths.
I’m sharing this because I believe it’s time we all started living out loud as the beautifully complex, multifaceted humans we are. And the best part? That complexity is where your strength lies.
We Are a Collection of Stories
Take a moment and step back. If you examine your life, you’ll notice it’s less of a straight, calculated line and more like a bundle of interconnected stories. Think of all the roles you’ve played and the identities you’ve collected along the way.
Maybe you’re a dog lover who finds solace in early-morning forest trails. Perhaps you’re a self-taught baker, layering the perfect sourdough loaf every weekend with unmatched patience. You’re a sibling and a friend—fiercely loyal to your inner circle. Yet, you’re also curious about the next person who might walk into your life.
The truth is, you’ve never been just one thing. You’ve always been a blend of everything at once.
And yet, society nudges us toward trimming our stories, forcing them into one neat tagline. “What do you do?” they ask, hoping your answer fits into a neatly rectangular box. But isn’t that limiting? Like trying to describe an entire night sky by pointing out just one star.
What would happen if, instead, we celebrated every layer of who we are? Imagine the joy of discovering new hobbies or the freedom to nurture friendships outside your nine-to-five grind. It’s honest. It’s freeing. And most importantly, it’s human.
The Problem with Being “Just One Thing”
Imagine walking into a library where every book cover had only one word. “Doctor.” “Parent.” “Traveler.” How much richness and detail of the story would you miss just by judging the cover?
This is what happens when we define ourselves by one narrow term. We limit not just conversations but the vast possibilities life has to offer. It’s easy to grow comfortable in an identity. Too comfortable, sometimes, to the point that it holds us back.
Maybe you’ve heard that little inner voice saying, “Stick to what you know.” It convinces you that you’re “too old,” “too inexperienced,” or “not the type of person” to try something different. But here’s what no one says out loud often enough:
Your story is never finished. It’s always a work in progress.
Allowing yourself to grow, change, or try something new doesn’t erase who you are. It adds to who you are.
Finding Value in Being Multidimensional
Life takes on a special kind of beauty when we stop labeling ourselves with limiting beliefs. If this message resonates with you, here are a few ideas to try today, tomorrow, or whenever you’re ready to step outside your comfort zone:
- Explore a New Hobby or Passion: Always been drawn to watercolor paintings but never tried? Grab a beginner’s kit online here. Love the idea of calligraphy? Join a beginner’s class or pick up a write-and-practice calligraphy set here.
- Reconnect With Forgotten Interests: Remember a pastime you loved but set aside because life got in the way? Dust it off. Maybe it’s learning guitar, gardening, or journaling. For easy journaling inspiration, check out planners designed for guided self-reflection, like this one here.
- Celebrate Every Hat You Wear: Don’t dismiss the “little” things. Whether it’s having a talent for organizing or being great at bringing people together, these aren’t just small quirks. They’re a big part of what makes you unique.
Ultimately, there’s something magnetic about a person who embraces their complexity. Trying to define yourself as more than one thing? That’s not confusing—that’s courageous.
Life Is About the Layers, Not the Labels
What makes life mesmerizing is how we continue to evolve, refusing to be defined by the version of ourselves we were yesterday. You are your quiet Sunday mornings and your bold Saturday nights. You are every place you’ve been, every love you’ve given, and every risk you’ve embraced.
The world doesn’t need a single, simple answer to “Who are you?“ Sometimes, it’s about pointing forward with curiosity instead of certainty and asking, “What’s your story?”
Keep writing it. The chapters? They're all yours to create. Add as many as your heart desires, and don’t forget to celebrate the beauty of being more than just one thing.
