6 ms·

Why is the grass always greener? A manifesto for overachievers

31 points by kateroth 15y ago

jzycrzy 15y ago
Reminds me of the saying: "The grass is greener where you water it."
meric 15y ago
There's no point thinking what would have been if you only chosen this other path - If you really chose this other path, you are not you.
jonnathanson 15y ago
Great piece, and the first part especially reminds me of a term I came across in psychological literature a few years back. It's called the "multipotentiality" problem. (http://www.tip.duke.edu/node/784 http://www.tip.duke.edu/node/784). Essentially, the problem is that those with the aptitude for, and interest in, a number of diverse disciplines -- typically, gifted individuals -- may suffer from an inability to choose one path over the others, or to stick with any given path long enough to truly master it. Additionally, they tend to suffer from an occasionally crippling form of regret over the paths they didn't take. (Da Vinci, one of history's most famous polymaths, is said to have remarked late in his life that "I've wasted my hours"). There is some debate about whether, and to what extent, multipotentiality is a legitimate psychological phenomenon. But I've sure grappled with it, or at least something that feels quite like it, for a large part of my life. I know plenty of others who have, as well. And your article really struck a chord w/r/t the topic. [I'm not saying any of us is a Da Vinci, btw. Just pointing out that even someone who legitimately did master multiple disciplines suffered from "grass is greener" crises every now and then.]
- mgkimsal 15y ago
  I've heard this described as "too many aptitudes" - http://megasociety.org/noesis/138/aptitude.html http://megasociety.org/noesis/138/aptitude.html - but multipotentiality has a nice sciency sounding ring to it.
  - bane 15y ago
    A lot of this article seems to apply to INTJ personality types, I wonder what the overlap is?
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
rogermugs 15y ago
I didn't find this a manifesto... more a rant and then fatalism... the article wasn't bad, but it was more "know thyself" than "a manifesto for overachievers." just my $0.23

31 points by kateroth 15y ago

Reminds me of the saying: "The grass is greener where you water it."

meric 15y ago

There's no point thinking what would have been if you only chosen this other path - If you really chose this other path, you are not you.

jonnathanson 15y ago

Great piece, and the first part especially reminds me of a term I came across in psychological literature a few years back. It's called the "multipotentiality" problem. (http://www.tip.duke.edu/node/784 http://www.tip.duke.edu/node/784). Essentially, the problem is that those with the aptitude for, and interest in, a number of diverse disciplines -- typically, gifted individuals -- may suffer from an inability to choose one path over the others, or to stick with any given path long enough to truly master it. Additionally, they tend to suffer from an occasionally crippling form of regret over the paths they didn't take. (Da Vinci, one of history's most famous polymaths, is said to have remarked late in his life that "I've wasted my hours"). There is some debate about whether, and to what extent, multipotentiality is a legitimate psychological phenomenon. But I've sure grappled with it, or at least something that feels quite like it, for a large part of my life. I know plenty of others who have, as well. And your article really struck a chord w/r/t the topic. [I'm not saying any of us is a Da Vinci, btw. Just pointing out that even someone who legitimately did master multiple disciplines suffered from "grass is greener" crises every now and then.]

mgkimsal 15y ago
I've heard this described as "too many aptitudes" - http://megasociety.org/noesis/138/aptitude.html http://megasociety.org/noesis/138/aptitude.html - but multipotentiality has a nice sciency sounding ring to it.
- bane 15y ago
  A lot of this article seems to apply to INTJ personality types, I wonder what the overlap is?
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]

rogermugs 15y ago

I didn't find this a manifesto... more a rant and then fatalism... the article wasn't bad, but it was more "know thyself" than "a manifesto for overachievers." just my $0.23