I interviewed a number of extraordinary contemporary Renaissance women for a book I published in 2016 entitled: RenWomen: What Modern Renaissance Women Have to Teach Us About Living Rich, Fulfilling Lives. What I learned from these women, among other things, is how important it is to approach life and work with a Renaissance State of Mind.
The old paradigm of learning one skill well, and having only one or two jobs in a single area of expertise for one’s entire work life, is breaking down. Our rapidly evolving times and the volatility of the job market make it far more likely that an individual will hold numerous jobs in a lifetime, and those jobs often span more than one occupation and demand different sets of skills.
Even within a single job, an employee is often asked to demonstrate skills in multiple areas, needing mastery, for example, in several software programs. So a person who can flexibly move from one skillset to another, from one discipline to another; who has a broader rather than narrower base of abilities may be better adapted to our modern times. In this world in flux, and especially during these challenging times of a worldwide pandemic, it seems the old adage “adapt or perish” couldn’t be more true.
So what are the elements of a Renaissance State of Mind?
The Urge to Grow and Expand
In her bestselling book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Stanford University professor Carol S. Dweck defines the difference between what she calls a “growth mindset” and a “fixed mindset:” A fixed mindset is the belief that your qualities are carved in stone, that you were born with only a certain amount of intelligence and talents, and those are all you have to work with during your lifetime. The growth mindset, on the other hand, is based on the belief that your qualities are things you can cultivate and expand through study, effort and experience. In other words, it is the belief we are capable of growth and change. A growth mindset is something Renaissance individuals embrace.
The Ability to Employ Flexibility, Adaptability and Creative Solutions
This is an essential Renaissance trait. The essence of creativity is an open-minded, expansive, and exploratory process. Renaissance individuals do not limit themselves to one or two solutions to a problem. If something doesn’t work, they don’t quit, instead, they seek out other options, untried avenues, surprise maneuvers.
Abundant Curiosity and a Rage to Learn
Renaissance people are driven by avid curiosity and an intense desire to learn. They look around, they ask questions, they wonder. They seldom accept things at face value. For them learning is not a chore, it is a delight. It is a way to expand, to celebrate the vast capacities of the mind. When approaching a new endeavor, if they don’t know something, they reach out to experts and soak up information, they read books, they find articles. In other words, they give themselves a self-directed “mini-course” before launching into that new field.
The Desire to Nurture, Inspire, and Serve Others
Renaissance people do not hold their abilities and their wisdom close to the vest. They share them. Wherever they can, they encourage, guide, and support others, whether it is their life purpose, or whether it is simply an integral part of their lives. For a Renaissance person, it is not about ego, it is about connection and communication.
Willingness to Take Risks and Challenge the Status Quo
Renaissance people take risks. They know growth is not possible without doing so. They know that breakthrough discoveries are not made by just accepting what is. Pushing the envelope is part of their psychological makeup. With every risk, there is the possibility of failure, but they know failure is often just one of the stepping stones toward achieving a goal, and that a risk not taken is a dream not realized.
A Renaissance state of mind is multidimensional: A Renaissance person recognizes the changing realities of the 21st century and the need for multiple skills and out-of-the box thinking. He or she promotes taking chances and the fluid movement between various domains. A Renaissance person reaches out to inspire growth, excitement and love of work not only in themselves, but in all those around.
About the Author
Dale Griffiths Stamos is a playwright, author, screenwriter, and director. Her short and full-length plays have been produced around the country. She received the Heideman Award from Actors Theatre of Louisville and was a Top Ten Winner – twice – in the Writer’s Digest Stage Play competition. She has written six short films, three of which she directed, which have been official selections at more than 60 film festivals, and won two Audience Awards and eight Jury Awards. She is also co-author of the nonfiction book RenWomen: What Modern Renaissance Women Have to Teach Us About Living Rich, Fulfilling Lives. Dale is on the faculty of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference where she leads a workshop on story structure. She is also a private manuscript consultant. You can explore her book here.
