Have you ever asked…Who am I?
If you have, what was your answer?
People who are uncomfortable with this question will usually say, what do you mean, I’m…well…me.
Other people will say, hum…I guess I take for granted I know myself, but I want to think about this.
I’m not talking about labels or descriptions, I’m asking about your identity beyond the surface.
How about this, if I had 100 pieces of paper and I told you that each paper represented 1 person, and I wanted you to identify yourself, could you?
Oh, and I only listed two things:
BELIEFS – for example: we should care for nature and animals, always agree with others, never agree with others, not lie, etc.
CHARACTER TRAITS – for example: I’m shy, friendly, introverted, angry, positive, a victim, helpless, etc.
I left off your…
- outward appearance – height, weight, hair color, etc.
- labels – mother, friend, father, wife, employee, doctor, volunteer, etc.
- likes and dislikes – I love shopping, reading, playing tennis and I hate running, snakes and doing the dishes.
I’m NOT suggesting you lose sleep over this question, but I hope you will:
1. Take inventory of your strengths and weaknesses
2. Think about how you respond in a crisis (when many inhibitions fall away and core identity is revealed)
3. think about how you respond when things don’t go your way (what we are willing to risk or who we are willing to hurt in order to win)
4. think about what you stand for
The goal is to dig deeper, to get a clearer vision of yourself and the unique gifts you have to offer your life.