Being All that You are

Exploring Paths beyond Specialization

Did you know that geometric patterns lie at the core of creation, and becoming aware of them could profoundly change the trajectory of your life?

These sacred geometries are not just found in architecture, art and furniture; they are inherent in nature itself, from the symmetry of a snowflake to the petals of a flower. Zoom in further, and you'll see these patterns mirroring the processes of life itself.

First, there is a single sphere. Then through duplication, the sphere connects with a second sphere, creating an intersection wherein a third space emerges. And so on. Sounds familiar?

Illustration: Sphere duplicates to create new Life

Take a tree, for example: from a single seed buried in the ground, it germinates, cells divide, the seed grows and a tree emerges that eventually bears fruit. The cycle repeats, sustaining life anew. This pattern isn't limited to plants; it governs us humans too. We're born, we grow, we contribute, and eventually, we pass on and feed into something new.

And this cycle also extends into other areas of our life, such as work and relationships. As human beings, we're designed to bear fruit; to participate in an ongoing process of creation and recreation in which we share our gifts and, like a flower, flourish into all we can be.

But how many of us truly live like this? Do you?

Illustration: Sacred Geometries

Like these sacred geometrical patterns, we are meant to blossom and unfold more of what we really are — yet how often do we resist this ‘process’ and stay in a single sphere almost our entire life?

From a young age, most of us are asked: ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’

So we pursue a major. Confine ourselves to one job. Become an expert in a particular subject. Pick a path and stick to it. If we are lucky, we pursue one passion. If we have multiple interests, which most of us do, we are generally told to choose one. Anyone who wants to pursue all is labelled delusional, indecisive, flaky and unserious.

So we specialize — and only explore a tiny fragment of what’s inside of us.

What many of us aren’t aware of is that specialization is learned; a product of historical forces that got its prime time during the industrial age when workers were assigned tasks to operate types of machinery and streamline production processes. It made sense for efficiency and profit but as you can imagine: it stifled our spirit.

If you’re studying Business & Economics right now, can you see your studies as a stepping stone? If you’re a passionate carpenter, can you treat it as a stepping stone?

Obviously, make the most of your specialization. Learn and go deep. But what I’m trying to say is: don’t pigeonhole yourself, or get stuck in one reality. What any sacred geometry teaches us is how connected everything is. There is no such thing as a single isolated field. Pure specialisation is a myth. If you go deep enough into any field, any reality, it will start widening and opening up to more fields, more realities.

If you don’t find this to be true, maybe you haven’t gone deep enough yet?

Don’t be afraid to open up to more than one reality. Don’t shy away from seeing modern economics from multiple viewpoints. Allow your knowledge to be enriched through the facets of other fields, like ecology, cymatics, archaeology, human rights, astrophysics, microbiology, environmental conservation, industrial pollution etc. With each new connection you make and each boundary you blur, you inch closer to the cutting edge and get to know the world for what it truly is: a kaleidoscope of interdisciplinary lenses.

Are you an expert in a particular field? Can you allow yourself to be an expert but still commit to continuous learning? And what about bridging multiple fields — isn’t that expertise too?

If we treat our training or studies as merely a stepping stone, then they become an entry point into a bigger reality where everything is interrelated and ever-shifting, where there is so much more to explore and it’s impossible to get bored. Imagine merging your many passions, interests, talents and skills into one job description. Imagine creating a social enterprise at the intersection of different subjects, fields, and even industries. Imagine building a project that synthesizes all of you into one coherent vision.

Do you believe this is possible for you? If not, why not?

I once met an individual who was studying environmental science. She was extremely passionate about saving the world through her studies, yet at the same, it seemed as though she was exhausted and co-organizing activist campaigns because she felt she had to. On the side, she had this ‘insignificant passion’ — singing — that wasn’t worthy of her attention as it couldn’t save the world. Hence she didn’t invest much time in it. But interestingly, when she talked about this passion, her eyes sparkled and I saw so much light in her. She seemed to come to life! As we talked about our shared love for music, she gradually realized that she would love to make songs that were all about honouring the planet.

Too often, we allow limiting beliefs and messages from others to dictate our professional choices — which have you taken on from others?

‘Be rational’?

‘Get a real job’?

‘XYZ won’t pay the bills’?

‘You need to do something important’?

Let’s keep in mind that this thinking is not anyone’s ‘fault’. Your parents, caretakers, teachers and all those who think along the same lines have gotten it from somewhere too, so let’s show a little compassion. They usually mean well, although it may not always sound like it. This sort of conditioning is survival-based and has served its purpose for an industrial age. So thank you industrial age, and now — what else is possible?

Who says pursuing your many passions can’t earn you money? Who would say that Renaissance people like Es Devlin or Elon Musk don’t have a job? And what if there is more to life than mere survival?

As Emily Wapnick suggests in their eye-opening Ted Talk ‘Why some of us don’t have one true calling’, your multifaceted nature is not a weakness but a strength.

I’m so done with being ‘rational’. If life is not a good portion of magic, I’m out. You know, I seriously suffered under this thinking for a very long time. During my architecture studies, I realized my passions extended far beyond the field. My dream was to be active in the architectural field but to also realize my many other facets — a dilemma. All I wanted and needed was someone to tell me I was not crazy and my desire was valid. Yet, most of my closest people told me I had to choose a singular path and niche down. So one day I said f%ck it. I decided I had enough and made a pact with myself: I’ll pursue every passion, no matter what it takes. Fast forward a few years, and I’ve woven together over ten fascinations into a platform that reflects all of me, above all my hunger for learning.

Do you set time apart to nurture and cultivate your interests, curiosities and fascinations? Can you find a way to integrate them more into your everyday? If you have so many that you can’t choose, what are the one or two that are the most accessible at this moment?

By no means am I saying that every hobby needs to be turned into a job, either. What I’m saying is: cultivate what sparks something in you, as you never know what doors might open or close in the future. It's about integrating your interests, allowing them to enrich, complement and inform one another. Your hobbies have the potential to become serious allies that can help you create your most potent impact.

Your advocacy for social justice will be so much stronger if you combine it with your love for creative writing.

Your community outreach work will be far more impactful if you infuse it with your passion for hip-hop dance.

You will be a far better psychotherapist if you include your fascination for alternative therapies and medicine.

Your teaching will engage students on a deeper level if you bring your childhood talent for storytelling, drama and theatre into the classroom.

It’s simple energy — if in doubt, ask yourself: Would this choice feel more expansive and enriching, or more dense and contracted?

Sometimes, the idea of creating something new can feel daunting, more so than the actual act itself. If you find yourself in this situation, your challenge is not to doubt the act but rather to confront your fear of the idea that seems new — and then pioneer a role that has yet to be invented.

The Institute for the Future (IFTF) predicts that 85% of jobs that will exist in 2030 haven’t been invented yet. The fast pace of emerging technologies is increasingly disrupting every imaginable industry, and along with it many of our current jobs and positions, even those we deem safe.

So know this: in a swiftly changing landscape, the capacity to rapidly learn and merge ideas is crucial. Embracing your array of passions and finding a way to blend them could not be more relevant. By befriending uncertainty and forging your own unique path/practice/job, you position yourself as future-ready.

Rather than being disrupted, you become the disruptor — crossing traditional boundaries and innovating across domains, you can generate weird, wonderful, unconventional solutions and tackle challenges from much-needed new perspectives.

Instead of delving deeper into overly specialized technical skills just to keep up and succumbing to the pressure of following trends, why not seize this opportunity to thrive by harnessing your eclectic blend of passions, while allowing technology to enhance it?

Embarking on a path less travelled can be terrifying, especially when making career changes amidst challenges — be they social, cultural, economic, or environmental. Yet, it's important to remember that specialization and traditional employment have their place; they serve as stepping stones in our journey. Self-knowledge is key. Regardless of background, we can start preparing today by understanding ourselves more deeply so that we gradually feel more empowered to make those changes.

How clear are you on what makes you come alive? What do you like to do in your free time? What lights you up when you feel down? What do you like to research? What interests are fundamental to you as a person? Hint: It’s all in your life already to some degree and simply a matter of becoming aware of it.

By cultivating our curiosities and pursuing self-education, we can clarify our non-negotiable values and aspirations. From personal experience, I know that there is no need to have a clear roadmap for turning these aspirations into a professional reality; the true commitment lies in embracing the breadth and depth of our desires.

Making such commitment is profound; it's like tweaking the unseen web of geometrical forces so that when disruption arises, our efforts somehow align and we are presented with an opportunity that reveals a vital piece of our multifaceted journey.

An example: It’s not uncommon for those with business backgrounds to work in the corporate world for only a few years or decades and then embark on unexpected career trajectories. Take Jeremy Lent. The author and activist initially studied English Literature, then pursued an MBA and rose to the position of CEO of an internet company, only to end up investigating our civilization’s crisis and exploring life-affirming pathways. While his career may look incongruent on a resume, there's a clear thread running through his endeavours. His literary background honed his writing skills, while his corporate experience provided insight into harsh realities. Each step, seemingly disparate, has contributed to his development as an exceptional thinker and writer.

Why not pursue that job or study opportunity you've been secretly considering but hesitating to pursue out of fear of losing your current position? Why not start a passion project on the side of your main job?

It’s okay to switch it up and leave your professional field. Embrace the twists and turns, even if it means losing your job. Every step, whether planned or unexpected, is an opportunity to gain invaluable awareness that would have not been possible otherwise; it’s an essential part of your transformation.

Knowledge is never wasted; it accumulates over time.

If your resume is already all over the place, I’m in awe of you. You may not see it at this point — but sometime in the future, you will discover the connecting thread and recognize how each diverse endeavour has contributed to weaving a unique worldview, preparing you for a particular role and cultivating something truly precious: You.

No one can ever take that away from you, not even a machine.

As the future dawns and disruption accelerates, humanity may face unprecedented levels of mass unemployment. Surprisingly, this could be viewed as an opportunity rather than a setback. If you've ever felt constrained or uninspired by the idea of choosing a single career path, or if you've found it challenging to stick with one thing — this moment is yours. Feeling like you don't quite fit in isn't a flaw; it signifies that you're here to model a different way. While others narrow their focus, you diversify. Where others shrink and conform, you expand and innovate. You don’t shy away from change; you prepare.

What would you do if you lost your job tomorrow?

When the winds of change arise, be like a flower. Sway, bend, adapt. Allow yourself to develop in all directions, without preconceived notions of where they may lead. Allow change to burst you open, revealing your unconfined essence. Wild. Hard to pin down. Anything and everything. All linear systems and structures crumble under such rebellious, defiant energy — an energy field that is sacred geometrically shaped and continuously spirals into being.

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