The Neurodivergent Artist

‘Daddy, I want to be an artist!’ the little girl zoomed into the living room with all the sketches she had spent the last hour making, she felt like she could fly. She was so happy. She looked at her dad where he sat in the chair and he looked up from the newspaper. Curiosity turned into a frown on his face.

“Yesterday you said you wanted to be a scientist,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

 ‘I do!’ her cheeks dimpled and she bounced on her toes She was so happy she felt like a 2 liter soda that time her teacher put mentos in it. ‘But I like drawing too! And yesterday Mommy taught me to cook, and it was so fun! I want to do all of them! 

 Her dad folded the newspaper and rolled his eyes. The girl didn’t understand why adults could do that but she wasn’t allowed to. Then, he started talking in the way adults do when they think you’re being dumb, and said: “Honey, that’s not how the world works, you can’t do it all. You need to pick one thing and stick to it. If you spread yourself too thin, people will see you as unreliable and scatter-brained. They’ll think you won’t be able to commit to anything and won’t take you seriously.” 

This story isn’t mine, but also it was. My heart sank every time I was told this by adults I respected and cared for. A tiny seed of doubt was planted, and watered every time another comment was made until it became a thorny bramble surrounding me, one that would take decades to reconcile with. Because deep inside me, even as a girl, I was sure that the world was incorrect to ask me to choose. Maybe it’s healthier for some to follow all their passions rather than being limited to one.

Breaking the Myth: The Power of Diverse Interests

For nearly a century, we have been made to believe the only path to success comes from specializing with a laser-like focus on a narrow road. The phrase ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ is used in warning of spreading yourself too thin, leading to mediocrity. We’re told to keep things simple. Find one true thing to support. Put all your energy into it and the world will then recognize your effort.

Fuck. That.

History reflects that the most groundbreaking minds were the ones who zigzagged across disciplines, mixing and matching ideas like mad scientists in a lab. They didn’t just color outside the lines; they redrew the entire canvas, proving that innovation thrives not in the safety of a single path, but in the chaos of many.

Yet history has a way of confounding conventional wisdom. When you take a mental step back to look at the situation through a wider lens, you realize that some of the greatest forces in history will never fit in a box. Or, to put it more precisely, they were in lots of them at once. Think of Leonardo da Vinci, who proved that being a ‘jack of all trades’ didn’t preclude mastery. Beyond his renowned paintings, Leonardo was a skilled scientist, musician, and engineer, driven by a limitless curiosity. His example endures, even when the world shifted to put higher value in specialization.

At the time of this article 6/10 people on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List are openly neurodivergent and credit their success to that fact. Another two are strongly believed to be by the general public, but neither is confirmed. Their paths to success often diverged from the traditional route. By nurturing many interests and their curiosity, they built a diverse skill set. It gave them a stronger foundation for achieving wealth and influence than if they had focused on one thing from the start. They didn’t censor themselves. They let their varied interests guide them. They saw this variety as a strength, not a hindrance. In other words, they applied what is called ‘ecological thinking’.

Ecological thinking reveals subtle links between opposing ideas and fields. It leads to creative, holistic solutions. Ecological thinkers see skills and interests as a web, not independent entities each confined to their own little box. They connect them to create a strong, resilient network. Every strand supports the others. This thinking sees that diverse experiences and knowledge support each other. It leads to breakthroughs which would otherwise be lost in a singular focus. Ecological thinkers create new opportunities by applying ideas from one area to another. This enriches their work and broadens their impact.

This view disrupts the belief that specialization is the only path to success. It’s a counterproductive idea in a “big business” centered capitalist economy. Instead, it celebrates the power of adaptability, inventive thinking, and recognizing the larger context in an ever-shifting landscape. So, for those who feel drawn to more than one calling, the message is clear: don’t hold back. Allow your interests to crash into each other, and discover the unique formula for success that is yours alone. It’s time to test the power of diverse interests. Find inspiration in those who have thrived through them. Then, pursue every passion that sparks your curiosity.

How Diverse Interests Benefit Neurodivergent Minds

For a neurodivergent mind, shifting tasks isn’t a quirk. It’s a survival strategy. It channels a constant hum of thoughts into something productive. Writing today, sewing tomorrow, or diving into massage therapy. These diverse interests offer a lifeline. Each one stimulating the brain in different ways. This mental flexibility isn’t a coping mechanism. It’s a superpower. It can boost our minds, helping us thrive where others might fail.

Doing various activities follows the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is often used to help neurodivergent people navigate the world. CBT is all about creating new neural pathways, rewiring the brain to handle stress and challenge negative thoughts. New activities build adaptive brain networks. This boosts our flexibility and resilience. As CBT reshapes our thoughts and stress responses, a varied routine can strengthen our minds. It can make us more adaptable and less prone to stagnation.

But it’s not about survival—it’s also about creativity. For neurodivergent individuals, creativity often comes from the intersection of seemingly unrelated interests. Take tattooing, for example. For someone like me, who loves sewing and massage therapy, picking up a tattoo machine wasn’t a new hobby. It was a way to blend my skills into something new and meaningful. This kind of cross-training in different domains isn’t beneficial; it’s essential. Research shows that varied activities can spark creativity, especially in neurodivergent minds that don’t fit conventional boxes.

The blending of sensory experiences from different areas of expertise for neurodivergent individuals, this is often where the magic happens. We weave our diverse interests into something new. It breaks from tradition. This is what’s known as the ‘novelty of form’—creating new and original structures that stand out from the crowd. It’s not about being different. It’s about making our work fit its purpose. Researchers call this the “appropriateness of expression.”

For us, this blend of experiences isn’t a distraction; it’s a necessity. It’s how we make sense of the world and express ourselves in ways that are both innovative and meaningful. So, while society might urge us to specialize and focus on one thing, we know that our diverse interests are our greatest asset. They keep our minds sharp and our spirits resilient. They spark our creativity. With confidence from embracing our neurodivergent nature, we navigate a world that often doesn’t understand us.

The Richness of a Life Filled with Varied Pursuits

Mastering various skills and achieving different milestones brings great fulfillment. It also enriches life’s journey. My varied interests light my path. I enjoy spinning intricate stories, making thread art, and exploring dark, fantastical myths and horror. Learning new skills and insights enriches my life. It adds vibrant threads to its tapestry. I seek to navigate the complexities of Gothic romance and never stop working at making my writing better.

Many activities can create a warm, personal sense of accomplishment. For neurodivergent individuals, a milestone in one area often creates a ripple effect throughout their life. This reverberation, amplified by hypersensitivity and synesthesia, doesn’t just bring peace. A wave of dopamine calms the excited neurons, like wrapping our brains in a warm, fuzzy blanket. It’s fulfilling and validating. It brings internal applause and a bit of existential relief.

Varied enthusiasms don’t make a life richer; they also offer vibrant, active linkages to others who share your passions. Imagine that same dinner party. Fans of every stripe fill the table. The conversation flies from topic to topic, each morphing into the next. By pursuing varied hobbies, you gain a mix of skills. You also build a network of fans who share your enthusiasm.

Talking with fellow myth fans about ancient lore, or with horror fans about your favorite jump scares, is thrilling. It enriches your passions in new ways. It can reveal the tricks and odd rules of your hobby. It will share secret handshakes that lead to hidden clubhouses where everyone speaks your lingo. These chats create a warm camaraderie. It’s like finding an old friend in a crowd. This friend also loves thread art, gothic romance, and dark fantasy. By celebrating your diverse interests, you enrich your life. You build a strong network of people who can help you deepen your passions.

The practice of diverse pursuits leads to a greater sense of community and connection with others. Discussing various topics leads to interactions with like-minded people. This includes conversations about dark fiction with other writers and mythological ideas with lovers of the genre. Each conversation is a thread adding to a community as everyone involved connects through their shared interest. This network of relationships creates a sense of belonging. It connects like-minded individuals. They help develop each other’s intellect.

Practical Tips for Managing Multiple Hobbies

Your mind may work in unique ways. Neurodivergence shapes a reality that feels different from others. This could mean you need more defined markers to help shift focus from one task to another, like resetting a compass before charting a new course. It can mean that, if you like, you can make up your own ‘games’ to think with. This can be a good thing, as you can respond in unconventional ways to problems. Use the chaotic character of your thoughts as a source of creative possibilities. Don’t treat distractions as nuisances – see them as a source of creative material. 

Discover your natural flow. What is your focus cadence? When are you sharpest and when are you at your dullest? When you have a sense of when you tend to be most effective, schedule your day accordingly. If you are a morning person, work your harder tasks then and your lesser tasks later. Rhythm is king. If you can find and follow your natural rhythm, what was once a chaotic schedule will become a carefully choreographed march. 

Set a Flexible Routine Rather than a strict routine, think about your day as a flexible structure that takes into account the ebbs and flows of the day. Start your day with some calm, restorative routines. Then, reconnect with your body through yoga and exercise. Finally, warm up your creativity with a creative activity. This will help you ease into your work. This will help you feel more balanced and flexible, which is the foundation of neurodivergent resilience.

Set aside your most focused time for your most demanding work, then alternate it with periods of more routine, ‘mindless’ tasks creating a space for deep work. Take mindful breaks at intervals to avoid burnout. This ‘dual-task’ approach helps you make the most of your periods of focus while taking the necessary breaks. Use digital reminders and visual calendars to track your tasks and deadlines. Reflect on your thoughts and feelings at intervals. Make sure your plans support, not limit, you. This can help you manage your responsibilities to fit your neurodivergent needs. 

If you have multiple hobbies and want to keep your sanity, you have to accept that your mind is all over the place. And you need to accept that this is OK. Some strategies can be found in this article. You’ll see how to turn chaos into a structured flow. It will make managing your daily routines much more enjoyable.

Conclusion

It’s time to stop judging people with many interests as flighty. They are multifaceted individuals. We should praise individuals with a kaleidoscope of interests for their creativity, innovation, and resilience. 

 To be drawn to many paths is not something you need to worry or feel anxious about. Your many passions aren’t illegitimate. They are the foundation of a rich, creative, fulfilling life amid limitless possibilities. The world craves individuals who refuse to follow a singular path. Embracing the groove metaphor means aligning your passions and managing your time harmoniously. Yet, by examining the grooves in your thumbprint, you can see how your diverse interests can converge to define your unique identity.