In professional circles, there’s often an unspoken rule: to succeed, you need to project a clear, focused image. You’re the analytical numbers person, the empathetic team leader, or the creative visionary. This pressure to neatly define ourselves—to fit into a single box—can feel overwhelming, as though the more narrow and polished our persona, the more credible and marketable we’ll be. But this narrowing of identity comes at a significant cost. Not only does it limit our full self-expression, but research also shows it can hinder our overall success, creativity, and resilience.
Winston Churchill’s leadership during World War II is legendary was. at least in part, empowered by his ability to explore a variety of creative outlets during times of intense stress. While the world knows him as Britain’s wartime Prime Minister, Churchill was also an accomplished painter, a writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and even a bricklayer in his free time (Keegan, 2005). Amid the immense pressures of leading a nation through the Blitz, Churchill found solace and clarity in activities that seemed wholly unrelated to his role as a leader.
In 1940, as bombs fell over London and the weight of his office grew heavier, Churchill would retreat to his easel to paint serene landscapes. He described painting as “a joy, and a solace in times of trouble” (Churchill, 1948). This wasn’t escapism—it was a way to rejuvenate his mind and maintain his composure. Churchill’s example reminds us that pursuing diverse passions isn’t a distraction from our core responsibilities; it’s a powerful way to fortify ourselves for them.
Churchill’s story is just one of many that demonstrate how embracing the full spectrum of our interests enriches not only our personal lives but also our professional effectiveness. By stepping beyond the confines of a narrow self-concept, we allow ourselves to grow into fuller, more realized individuals.
The Cost of Narrowing Ourselves
The modern workplace often rewards specialization at the expense of a broader, more holistic approach to self-development. Many people feel pressure to shed or suppress parts of themselves that don’t align with their chosen field or career goals. A software engineer who loves writing poetry, for instance, might worry that sharing this passion undermines their technical credibility. A manager who thrives on adventure sports might keep this interest quiet for fear of being seen as reckless or unfocused.
But while this narrowing may feel professionally prudent, it can undermine long-term well-being and effectiveness. Research consistently shows that individuals who embrace a diverse range of interests and roles are more resilient, adaptable, and fulfilled. By contrast, over-identification with a single role—whether professional or personal—can leave us vulnerable when that role is challenged or threatened. Unleashing your creative spark, regardless of your job, pays.
Da Vinci’s Boundless Curiosity
Winston Churchill isn’t the only historical figure whose diverse passions fueled their greatness. Leonardo da Vinci, often considered the archetype of a “Renaissance man,” seamlessly blended his interests in art, science, engineering, anatomy, and more. His anatomical studies informed his painting of lifelike human figures, while his engineering designs anticipated inventions like helicopters and bridges centuries before they were feasible (Isaacson, 2017).
Da Vinci’s ability to draw connections between seemingly unrelated fields was key to his genius. He famously noted, “Everything connects to everything else” (Isaacson, 2017). His curiosity wasn’t confined by the boundaries of any single discipline, and that openness allowed him to innovate and create at an unparalleled level.
For professionals today, the lesson is clear: Cultivating curiosity across multiple domains can enhance creativity and problem-solving. The business leader who studies psychology may gain deeper insights into motivating their team, while the artist who learns programming may open entirely new avenues for their work. By following Da Vinci’s example, we become more innovative and resilient in the face of challenges.
Maya Angelou: A Life Enriched by Variety
Maya Angelou’s life offers a more modern perspective on this principle. Known worldwide as a poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist, Angelou had a remarkably varied career. She worked as a dancer, a singer, an actor, a journalist, and even San Francisco’s first African American female streetcar conductor before she ever penned her iconic autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Gillespie et al., 2008).
Angelou once said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have” (Angelou, 2013). Her varied experiences enriched her writing and activism, giving her a unique voice that resonated with people from all walks of life. Each chapter of her life informed the next, demonstrating that our passions are not discrete—they are interconnected sources of wisdom and inspiration.
For Angelou, exploring her many interests wasn’t a luxury; it was integral to her development as an artist and as a person. Her life reminds us that what may seem like detours often lead to unexpected destinations, deepening our understanding of ourselves and the world.
The Psychological Case for Diverse Interests
The lives of Churchill, Da Vinci, and Angelou resonate with findings in psychology. At the heart of this idea lies the concept of self-complexity, a psychological framework developed by Patricia Linville (1987). Her research demonstrated that individuals who have a more complex self-concept—meaning they see themselves as having multiple roles, interests, and areas of identity—tend to be more resilient to stress and better equipped to handle life’s inevitable challenges.
Linville’s study involved assessing participants’ self-concepts through detailed questionnaires that examined the number of distinct roles they identified with (e.g., friend, parent, professional, artist) and how independent or interrelated these roles were. She found that individuals with higher self-complexity experienced less emotional distress in response to negative life events, as they could compartmentalize these events more effectively. For example, a setback in their professional life would not ripple into their personal sense of self-worth, because their identity was not exclusively tied to their career.
In contrast, participants with low self-complexity—those who identified strongly with only one or two roles—were more vulnerable to stress, as difficulties in these roles had an outsized impact on their overall sense of self. Linville’s findings suggest that cultivating diverse roles and interests acts as a psychological buffer, protecting individuals from the emotional fallout of failures or setbacks in any single area of life.
Over-identification with a single role, such as being a “high performer” at work, can create significant psychological risks if that identity is challenged or disrupted. By contrast, pursuing diverse interests not only enriches our lives but also provides a more stable foundation for navigating adversity. Engaging in a hobby, exploring a passion project, or dedicating time to community involvement are not mere distractions—they are investments in resilience and well-being.
Linville’s finding aligns with self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), which emphasizes the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in fostering intrinsic motivation and well-being. Engaging in a variety of interests supports these psychological needs by providing opportunities for mastery, self-expression, and connection. Pursuing hobbies or passions outside of our primary roles enriches our lives and helps us approach challenges with greater energy and creativity.
Fuller Selves Perform Better
Beyond emotional resilience, there is evidence to suggest that high self-complexity also corresponds to higher professional performance. Research by Judge and Bono (2001) investigated the relationship between core self-evaluations—traits such as self-esteem, generalized self-efficacy, locus of control, and emotional stability—and job performance. Through a meta-analysis, they found that individuals with more positive self-concepts tended to perform better in their roles, experience higher job satisfaction, and exhibit stronger overall workplace outcomes.
This matters in the context of self-complexity because positive self-concepts often emerge from having a multifaceted view of oneself. Someone with a broader identity—encompassing interests, hobbies, and roles outside of work—is more likely to feel confident and capable across a range of contexts. This confidence translates into better performance in professional environments, where adaptability, emotional stability, and self-efficacy are key predictors of success. These findings tell us that fostering a diverse and balanced self-concept isn’t just beneficial for personal well-being; it also enhances professional effectiveness.
Additionally, Chen, Casper, and Cortina (2001) explored how self-efficacy mediates the relationship between cognitive ability and job performance, particularly in tasks of varying complexity. Their findings highlight the critical role of self-perception in professional success. A more nuanced self-concept, built on a range of interests and competencies, may empower individuals to approach professional challenges with greater confidence and adaptability.
Together, these studies illustrate the dual benefits of cultivating diverse interests: they provide emotional stability in the face of stress and bolster performance in professional contexts. Over-identification with a single role, such as being a “high performer” at work, creates significant risks if that identity is challenged or disrupted. By contrast, pursuing diverse passions and roles enriches our lives, strengthens our resilience, and enhances our capacity for success across all domains.
So the bottom line is this: Be your fullest self. Embrace your passions and interests, and don’t let a narrow career track constrain your sense of self. You are not your job or even your LinkedIn profile, and your work will most likely benefit from your expansive explorations of your world and your talents.
References
Angelou, M. (2013). Mom & Me & Mom. Random House.
Chen, G., Casper, W. J., & Cortina, J. M. (2001). The roles of self-efficacy and task complexity in the relationships among cognitive ability, conscientiousness, and work-related performance: A meta-analytic examination. Human Performance, 14(3), 209–230.
Churchill, W. S. (1948). Painting as a pastime. Odhams Press Limited.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Springer.
Gillespie, M., Butler, R., & Long, B. (2008). Maya Angelou: A glorious celebration. Doubleday.
Isaacson, W. (2017). Leonardo da Vinci. Simon & Schuster.
Judge, T. A., & Bono, J. E. (2001). Relationship of core self-evaluations traits—self-esteem, generalized self-efficacy, locus of control, and emotional stability—with job satisfaction and job performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(1), 80–92.
Keegan, J. (2005). Winston Churchill. Viking Penguin.
Linville, P. W. (1987). Self-complexity as a cognitive buffer against stress-related illness and depression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(4), 663–676.
