Polymaths: Adapting to Conformity

Originally, this piece was supposed to be about something different entirely, but then it merged with another thought I’d had. So, anyone who considers themselves a polymath, or jack-of-all trades will understand both the struggle and freedom of being such. On one end you have multiple things you’re skilled and knowledgeable at doing, and on the other end you don’t necessarily have too much time to engage with them how you want because of how life is expected to be lived. You make enough time to pursue, learn, and create but it never really seems to he enough, and often times you’re burnt out with your regular life obligations like having a job or maintaining the focused social connections you have in-between. And that’s just the conflicts regarding your own interests and your obligations, but it gets more complicated than that when you’re also having to regulate time for each interests and decide which one needs the investment the most given the time allotted.

As for the main premise of this writing, I always manage to circle back to the fact that polymaths are often suppressed by the nature of our society, in favor of those with more focused profession and individual skill. Despite this, it’s often considered a plus-aide when you have a transferable set of skills for different opportunities or advantages. I think the modern day perspective that favors having a singular skill or knowledge is how we’ve been conditioned to think, but the future suggests that eventually it may just be everyone for themselves in terms of ability and output. This is especially true given that now since we’ve entered the point in time where AI is performing just as good, if not better than some of the people in their career fields. Eventually, the skills or degrees that people attain won’t even be necessary or available anymore. Which then leads to one generation of people who will be considered inadequate after so long, and then to a following generation that has no choice but to grow and adapt into the only options they have for a reasonable life.  However, this isn’t really far off from just how things have been historically between the generations. Out with the old, in with the new. And even though this is the cycle that has been repeatedly happening, there still doesn’t seem to be a focus on showing others how to adapt to these changes. It’s really just “Fuck you, figure it out.” half the time. Even as polymaths, it can be a trying challenge because it essentially means that we’ll need to pick up newer skills and adapt with those, while integrating them into our personal lives and professions. Given that most polymaths enjoy the aspect of learning new skills, this isn’t too much of an issue and can even be rewarding. The hardest part is the obligation behind it all.

Most polymaths enjoy a great level of autonomy and choice, so when those things are jeopardized by the forced entry of boundary placed by others, it can be very soul crushing. Without a doubt, to even live in a society you’ll have to adhere to different rules and expectations. No one really cares about how much you do or can do, so long as it doesn’t also benefit them or that they can tangibly see that it has brought about great success. Fair enough, nobody has time to really give a shit, but understanding the dangers of that mindset is more the focus here. Sure, there’s no point in creating or knowing a bunch of things, when you can maybe just outsource it or have it generated for you. That is, no point aside from personal or subjective feelings and values, especially if those those things don’t actually bring anything to your life that adds meaning or financial gains. Nowadays, it definitely does help to have some kind of gig(s) or side-hustle on top of whatever it is you’re doing for a regular check because of how difficult living has become. Being a polymath helps with that often, because of the different ventures and options you could do to benefit from. Which is why to some extent, everyone will become a polymath at some point if they hope to stay afloat. Much like in the past, before more conventional and standardized things came to be. This does potentially mean that it could both boost opportunity and lower it at the same time. If everyone is doing the same things or needing engagement for their own personal business endeavors, then who will really be the ones to consume it? I think there has to be some degree or both freedom and conformity in a way that’s accepted, rather than forcing one or the other. This balance isn’t often reached or understood because people naturally have to have a hand in things for the sake of power and wealth. Or rather, it is understood but the need to get ahead at the sake of others is a small price to pay for most I’d say.

I guess it all depends on your level of morality but there can’t be a wrong answer unless that’s what a majority deems as wrong. Having to subscribe to an ever-present set of rules and changing demands is exhausting, and seems to be the main source of anxiety and depression. By now, there’s not much that influences it besides cultural differences, but on a broader scale, we all have to abide by these expectations. Shut up and do what you’re told and how you’re told is the world we’ve created. Which highly contradicts the way we were brought up as kids when our caretakers told us to do and be whatever we want. Only they forgot to mention the harsh and hallow realities of living even a typical life, let alone going after things you want. Nonetheless, we owe it to ourselves to see our visions and plan around the things that we have no real control over.