My Year of Multipotentiality

I went on a date with a Dutch guy the other week. 

Before you ask: I’m on a mission to find someone who will change my mind about Dutch guys. (More on this at another time.)

But he was cool. Smart. A director. When he asked about my acting and I told him that I was too interested in too many other things to give it 100% at the moment, he replied:

“You’re a multipotentialite.”

I did not think this was a word. But it is. A relatively new one, but an old concept. It’s akin to being a Renaissance Person. Not exactly something I would consider myself. 

But a multipotentialite? Absolutely. 

New favorite self-descriptor unlocked.

Multipotentiality is a psychological term referring to the ability or preference of a person, often one with strong intellectual or artistic curiosity, to excel in two or more fields.

It’s the use of the word “potential” that gets me going. This is not about being a master of many skills. (That’s a polymath.) It’s about a willingness to learn. To grow. To shift gears and to expand. 

I think people who consider themselves travelers often fall into the multipotentialite bucket. The urge to explore the unknown. 

I don’t see how this could be a bad thing. How could being open-minded possibly be a bad thing? And yet…

In some parts of modern society, norms weigh heavily in favor of specialization. Specialites. (Not a word, probably.) These are the people who have a very high level of knowledge and skill in one specific area. 

In some cases, people might even be looked down upon for having several interests and skills. At a young age, for example, we’re made to choose a college major. Then a career. If you fail to stick with one, you might be called indecisive, unfocused, or absurdly — lazy.

Naturally, some have no issue here. They know exactly what they want. And this used to be me, ironically. I never thought twice about being an actor. It was my identity and I loved it. No questions asked. 

But the older I get… the more I find the reality of living a “specialized” existence to be incredibly limiting. 

I’ve said it to many — aforementioned Dutch guy included — and I’ll say it again: this is the first time in my entire life I’ve been away from theatre for an extended period. Do I miss it? Of course. But wow… have I really enjoyed getting to know myself outside of it.

How do you know what you’re capable of in life if you don’t dilly dally? 

What’s that old adage? You know the one. 

Fuck around and find out. 

In 2024, I challenge myself (and you) to dilly dally just a bit more. In the name of our collectively hidden potential. I promise it’s there somewhere.

ONWARDS,

Mag

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Addendum on Clean Mirrors

Sometimes — not always — there comes a point during an interaction with a new acquaintance where I realize I’m paying more attention to what the conversation is teaching me about myself than anything about the other person. 

I’m aware of how this sounds. And it is not that I don’t love getting to know new people. I really do. More than anything. People are the reason I travel.

But I experience a sort of phenomenon while speaking to someone I’ve just met: I hear myself more clearly. Sometimes I even see myself in a new way. 

It’s like looking into a clean mirror. One free of any smudges (or previous context) about me and my life. 

This dynamic is a gift. Thanks to Dutch Guy, I have a new word: a label that makes space for other labels.