When someone you meet for the first time asks about you, how do you respond?
Do you begin with what you do; I’m a realtor, I’m a teacher, I’m a plumber, I’m a first-responder, I’m a homemaker? Or do you respond with your mission or values?
When we lead with our profession – which 99% of the population does – we put ourselves into an identity box created by society about your career that includes how you serve, to your education, and how fat your wallet might be.
And what might happen if your identity is hacked? In order words, what would happen if your job was threatened, you became unable to perform your craft or conditions under which you execute your profession changed enough to make you want to leave your practice? If your identity was in some way stripped from you, how potentially damaging could that be to your ego or who you believe yourself to be? Could that trigger an identity crisis?
Many years ago it benefited me to have President on my business cards, then I went through a phase of not title whatsoever as not to initiate any preconceived ideas of my role or attempts to put me into a box. Eventually I shifted to a descriptive yet general title with, Strategist, Speaker, Author, Mom. My signature is now service-oriented displaying my mission, Catalyst for Positive Change and Inspired Growth, leaving all accomplishments, certifications, and initials behind….now it’s just me.
Jason Christoff speaks about how difficult, lonely and defensive an identity crisis can be when you categorize yourself with what you do vs. who you are. Jason Christoff: False Identity & Soul Loss (youtube.com) Even though we grow more from our slips than our triumphs, the system does not applaud failures only successes. However, when we are in touch with who we are, we can take ourselves anywhere and if, or when, our business or job takes a sharp right, we can easily course-correct in confidence and knowing.
Lesson one in our upcoming A Human Approach course is entitled, “Remember Who You Are” to get us grounded in gratitude and awareness of our uniqueness and ability as a co-creator Registration opens soon.
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