Identity - We Have One

What's Yours?

There are No Accidents

I chose to do some reading while my husband and my stepson were hiking in Volcano Park. I open my book, Atomic Habits, to where I left off and read - The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity. It’s one thing to say I’m the type of person who wants this. It’s something very different to say I’m the type of person who is this.

After reading for a while, I picked up my journal, which I randomly chose right before walking out the door. I casually opened a page in the middle of the journal and I read - Identity is the controlling force of your life. Expand your identity. Do something that you’ve never done before. (From the Time to Rise Summit)

Next, I pick up Project 369, another book I’m presently reading and go to my bookmarked page - Who Are You? I begin with the last paragraph where I left off - I’ll ask you again, who are you? Who do you believe you are? What do you say I AM to? What do you accept as true of yourself and your world?

Then later back at home, my brother calls and what does he start talking about? Identity!

Wow!

No accident - I need to pay attention.

The concept of identity is coming at me from every angle.

Hmm… now what?

Ah, I know, I’m to look at how I define myself.

Identity Questions

What do I believe is my identity?

Who do I believe I AM? Or I Am not.

What do I accept as TRUTH about me?

How do I define Myself?

Going Deep into My Definition of Self

To make sure I leave judgment at the door, I breathe deeply in and out of my heart then deep into my belly. I bring in Divine Love and Compassion with my intention and breath.

I begin simply yet strongly.

I AM… good, spiritual, loving, emotionally strong, intuitive, creative, loyal, positive, honest, generous, and kind.

I’m not… technically savvy, a natural cook, good with numbers, and adventurous.

Truths that I accept about myself (my life and habits)… maintaining my ideal weight, ‘being fit’, is trying and ongoing, staying organized is overwhelming, and learning technology is too much!

Hmm…my definition of myself is a mixed bag, some beneficial, some not so beneficial.

Who Do I Want to BE?

Maybe I want to change what I’ve claimed as the not-so-beneficial aspects of myself.

Maybe I want to turn up the volume and be more of my beneficial aspects.

Maybe I don’t want to be technically savvy or a natural cook but maybe I do want to maintain my ideal weight, stay fit with ease and stay organized without much effort. Or maybe I want to be more positive, spiritual, or loving.

The question is - Who Do I Want to Be?

I Get to Choose My Identity

As I think about the idea of choosing my identity, I remember what Louise Hay said to the doctor when she was told that she had cancer and a short time to live.

Her response was, “I created it, I can uncreate it.”

Not only did she uncreate it, but she lived vibrantly healthy for decades.

I understand that our identity is influenced by many factors… our parents, peers, community, our experimentations as a teenager, religion, relationships, social norms, etc.

However, I also believe as Louise Hay - we can uncreate that which we create.

Which goes back to the question - Who do I want to be?

Or…who do I want to create?

How I Create Who I Want to Be

Since claiming a new identity means becoming it by owning it, I need to BE that which I’m choosing to create.

Not a person who wants those things but a person who is those things.

But how?

How do I become that person?

I’ve talked a lot here about asking the right questions. When you ask the right questions you get the right answers. The right answers are answers that assist you in being more of yourself - being your true identity.

With that being said, I believe a simple way to become your new identity is to start by asking the right questions.

If you want to be a writer ask, what would a writer do?

If you want to be more loving ask, how would a loving person handle this?

If you want to be more organized ask, what would an organized person do?

After you ask, write down your answers.

Next, take action.

Remember friend, you don’t have to eat the elephant whole, you can at it one bite at a time.

You can create your identity with baby steps.

My Baby Steps:

I’ve decided that the next time I work out, I’ll ham it up with… wow, look at me. I’m so fit. I love being a fit person.

To make sure my new identity goes deep into my subconscious, while meditating I’ll see myself having fun with my workouts.

I’ll also remind myself that I’m choosing to love and honor my sacred body.

And while showering I’ll send love and gratitude to my body parts while washing them.

As John Bytheway so eloquently said, “Inch by inch, life's a cinch. Yard by yard, life's hard.”

We don’t have to make identity changes hard, we can take life inch by inch. Or as I like to say with baby steps.

YOU:

Who do you believe you are?

Do you want to change parts of your identity?

If yes, who do you want to be?

Inner Joy Compass Prompt:

We are always more joyful when we are our authentic selves and express our true identities.

So, here are some simple questions for your identity awareness. Please don’t give them much thought. Just say to yourself the first thoughts that come to mind:

• I AM ___________________________________.

• I’m not__________________________________.

• My life is________________________________.

• I’d like to be more ________________________.

• I’d like to be less__________________________.

Remember you get to choose your identity.

Ask the right questions and create whoever you wish to be.

“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” George Bernard Shaw

Enjoy creating YOU!

Thanks for hanging out with me.

I appreciate you.

With all my love,

Gloria

P.S. Part of my identity is strongly believing we each have something to contribute, something that will make a difference for someone. This is why I’m opening the way for other writers to share their experiences.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, you still have something to share, and heck, what do you have to lose, you’ll have a built-in editor.

Would you like to share and make a difference? We’d love to hear from you.

If so, you can comment here, or email me at gloriaboysal@gmail.com. All you have to say is - Yes, I’d love to share. And I’ll get back to you to work out the details.