“Oscar Wilde said that if you know what you want to be, then you inevitably become it – that is your punishment, but if you never know, then you can be anything. There is a truth to that. We are not nouns, we are verbs. I am not a thing – an actor, a writer – I am a person who does things – I write, I act – and I never know what I am going to do next. I think you can be imprisoned if you think of yourself as a noun.” ~ Stephen Fry
It’s terrifying to live each day with no clear idea of who you want to be. It looks as though everyone around you has it all figured out. Everyone else has discovered their path and career they want to pursue, while you’re left confused and anxious.
This quote shows us a different perspective on being a confused young adult. Instead of perceiving our lack of direction as failure, we can look at it as an opportunity.
When you have no idea who or what you want to be, you can be anything. You have the freedom to try anything, to whatever capacity your heart desires.
For those that feel they have “figured it out” should not consider themselves finished in their journey. They should never label themselves as a noun, but instead a verb. Continue being someone who does things but doesn’t become that thing. When you label yourself as a noun, it constricts your ability to expand, grow, and pivot. If you say “I’m a writer” people will question you when you start a podcast. If you say “I’m a painter”, they’ll wonder why you’re making music.
You are one thing, a human being, but you have the capacity to do many things. The only thing you are is a person who’s living their life, but what you do is an infinite list that you create. You are not an actor, you act. You’re not a musician, you make music. You’re not a noun, you are a verb.
So go do what verbs do – try, fail, succeed, change, and grow. You can do anything.
June 29, 2022
