We’re delighted to introduce you to a new C&D contributor, Danette Relic. Mistress of creative vibes and life coach.

Ah, Renaissance Soul. Sounds waaaaaay better than Commitment-Phobic-Twit. I like it.

If you are like me, in that you have a million things you love to do and never enough time to do them, keep reading.

If you are like me two years ago, in that you have not yet read The Renaissance Soul, Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One by Margaret Lobenstine, then seriously, keep reading. I know, you really should get back to knitting that gorgeous sweater, writing your novel, learning Japanese, rehearsing with your puppet troop and expanding your collection of gourmet cheeses, but you may thank me later. Or more likely, you may thank Margaret Lobenstine.

The Renaissance Soul is an insightful and practical companion for those of us who suffer the blessing of having too many wonderful ideas. Like all good books in the self help section, it has a specific audience who will read the first chapter, identify themselves and feel less alone. In this case, it’s people whose passions are so abundant that they (okay, we) have difficulty moving forward in any of them. We hear stories about successful people with their one and only life purpose statement laminated in their wallets and think, I could do that, if I just pick one thing to focus on…

To those of you (okay, us) who connect with this, Barbara Lobenstine reassures:

“Your desire to follow many (and frequently changing) interests is one of the best things about you.” Instead of being labeled a “problem” you can embrace your Renaissance Soul, harness your passions and create a dynamic life for yourself.

I knew I wasn’t a problem!

Lobenstine, we’re listening. Tell us how.

Not only does she tell us how, she leaves us with a sense of empowered focus and ends the book with an extraordinary resource list. For us folks with a million ideas, follow-through is crucial, and follow through she does.

I love the coaching approach of her book. It begins by getting clear on the topic (Renaissance Souls: Who You Are—and Who You’re Not) then doing some work around self-discovery (Panning for Golden Values) before launching into focused action (The Power of Renaissance Focal Points). This tells me that Lobenstine is interested in setting us up for sustainable success. I like that.

Lobenstine has done an elegant job balancing clarity and expertise (from years of working as a career counselor) with enthusiasm and possibility. She supports us in following our hearts desire to pursue multiple passions while also getting real about how we can get there and what that will cost us.

There are quizzes, myths debunked, case studies (that aren’t too long), clever formulas to help you at all stages of her book, and practical elements like time management and how to get paid for your passions. There is an excellent chapter on strategies for young Renaissance Souls who are about to make decisions about their path and education for the first time as adults. I wish I had read this when I was in high school, or at least, I wish my teachers and guidance counselors had.

There is one exercise that falls flat for me, which is calculating how many years we potentially have left by subtracting our present age from the age we expect to die. Really, I’m pretty happy to skip that one. I’m sure I read that part squinting and sneering. Not hugely motivating for me.

The Ice Cream Sampler

The exercise I love (and still use) is what Lobenstine calls The Ice Cream Sampler. Visualize an ice cream shop (this helps if you love ice cream) with hundreds of flavours. Here Lobenstine asks us to imagine how we feel when we are told we can only choose one flavour that we must eat every day for the rest of our lives. Then she asks us to consider trying to consume every flavour each day, every day. Once she has us overwhelmed (and, kind of wanting some ice cream) she presents her Ice Cream Sampler system as it applies to the many flavours (passions) of our lives.

Margaret, you had me at ice cream.

It works like this: choose four flavours for now. If at any time you wish to add another flavour, you must sacrifice one in its place.

I love the freedom this concept has given me. It allows me to relax and pursue my four flavours without feeling like I have made any permanent sacrifices. My four flavours right now are:

1. Growing a Coaching Practice that I Love
2. Developing Creativity Workshops
3. Writing
4. Building my Halloween Party Decorations

If I said that I no longer secretly try to sneak in another flavour disguised as hot fudge (that’s not technically a flavour, right?) I’d be lying. I’ve found that giving myself permission to be a Renaissance Soul helps me to be less frustrated by my insatiable appetite for creative freedom; I celebrate my gift of fullness. Having the Ice Cream Sampler structure in place keeps me in check and gives my ideas a chance to bloom, in their own time.

The Renaissance Soul is a book I refer to and recommend often. It also makes a thoughtful gift for those obvious Renaissance Souls in your life who you love. You know the one. Okay, maybe it’s you.

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For more information about Margaret Lobenstine and her work visit her website. Check out the Downloads pageto get the first chapter of her book for free, as well as take a quiz to find out if you are a Renaissance Soul.