I chose my university because of their amazing choir program. I’ve always loved to sing and loved being in choir throughout my school years, so it just felt natural to me to find a college with a great music program even though I didn’t intend to major (or even minor) in music. I wanted to major in English or Psychology. You know, something I could actually make a career in (I didn’t realize the English major is notoriously teased for being the jobless major. Whoops).

My first week at Whitworth University, I auditioned for the Whitworth Choir…and I didn’t even get a callback. I was devastated. This was literally the reason I chose this school, and I wouldn’t be a part of it.

Letting Go of an Identity

I found other passions and clubs and have absolutely no regrets about my time there. I know God wanted me at Whitworth and I loved it there. I didn’t even audition for choir the next year because I was too busy pursuing other interests. But it was still strange to me that singing - something I identified so strongly with in high school - was not something people would identify me with in college.

I was the English major. The thrift store addict. The club organizer and student leader. I occasionally sang for various events, but it wasn’t a significant part of my identity anymore.

Millennials and Labels

The millennial generations loves labels. Not status, like degrees or titles. But labels: things that help us to define who we are in just a few short words. Married. Mother. Enneagram 6. Entrepreneur. Christian. Feminist. Singer. Writer. Influencer.

We like labels because they help us to grasp who we are and voice it to others. But when you’re multi-passionate, labels can be overwhelming and hard to hone in on because you have so many of them! Depending on the audience, I could identify myself as a Virtual Assistant or Social Media Strategist or Blogger or Writer or Mom or Wife or Entrepreneur or Worship Leader or Poet or Craftaholic. I am all of these things, but no single one of them defines me.

Niching Down as an Entrepreneur

Now of course everyone has multiple labels they identify under, but particularly in the entrepreneur space it seems like the most successful ones have a clear, identifiable passion or label. She may be a fitness coach. He may be a marketing expert. She may be an influencer who focuses on fashion. He may help design graphics for upstart tech companies.

You can easily be multi-passionate and successful. But it’s harder to be known, simply because no one knows what to know you for! So do I want to niche down and become known, or do what I love and accept the plethora of labels that come with it? Do I want to focus on social media marketing tips, or motherhood, or poetry and creative writing? Or do I want to do any and all of these things because they bring me joy?

Honestly, I think the answer depends on the goal. If your goal as an entrepreneur is to make a lot of money and have a large following, it may be good to niche down. As for me, this blog is something I want to be enjoyable and focused on my passions: all of them.

Recognizing the Emotional Struggle

Finding confidence in a multifaceted, multi-passionate identity isn’t easy. Being multi-passionate comes with a lot of confusion and uncertainty. As an entrepreneur, it can feel very chaotic and out of step with the way others encourage you to be. As a person, it can feel like you’re just lost and haven’t found your focus yet.

When I find myself thinking in these ways, I have to remind myself that I am allowed to be who I am and I don’t have to answer to anyone for it. It’s okay to love a lot of things and pursue a lot of interests! It’s okay to not feel like any single thing defines who I am, and my success is not measured by the opinions or successes of others.

As a Christian, I also remind myself of where my true identity is: in Jesus. When I’m lost in an identity crisis, all I have to do is turn to God and remember who He has told me I am:

• I am His child (Galatians 4:7, 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:14)
• I am His creation (Psalm 139:13-16)
• I am free (Romans 8:1-2, Galatianns 4:7, John 8:36)
• I am not alone (Isaiah 41:10)
• I am beloved (Song of Solomon 6:3)

Knowing who I am in Christ gives me so much confidence in who I am, because my passions and my identity come from Him