5 Ways to Unlock Your True Identity
After spending some time in the corporate world, I started questioning if the standard life that was written for me was truly going to make me happy in the long-run. I was very grateful for the opportunity I was in and the knowledge and experience gained, but I started to lose myself overtime. All I knew was that now was the best time to break free from my traditional mindset in order to pursue something untraditional.
“I had come to the point where I had grown as much as I could have grown in that space, and I could feel the energy of my life pulling me in another direction.” - Oprah Winfrey
Identity is a major part of our lives. It may feel a little selfish to take time and reflect on who you are or where you want to be, but if you’re anything like the average millennial, you’re probably having an identity crisis every couple of months.
We’re stuck between the “follow the standard path,” and “explore your true calling,” conversations. We aspire to create and cultivate meaningful relationships all while sitting behind a screen for most of the day.
Figuring out your true self isn’t easy, but once you stop living for others’ ideals and live for yourself, everything becomes a little more clear.
Understanding yourself and your passions will lead you to become more self-aware, confident and happy. All of these things will allow you to have a more positive impact on life.
Here are 5 ways you can unlock your true identity and live your best life.
(1) Recognize who you are, not who you think you should be.
Personality tests are a great way to understand your traits and core values. Once you have a better sense of what makes you tick, you can align yourself with people, projects and careers that mirror those values. Not every situation will be perfect. By understanding your personality traits and values, you have the opportunity to be selective with your choices in order to fulfill the best version of yourself..
My Fave Personality Test: https://www.16personalities.com/
My Result: The Advocate (INFJ)
(2) Dive Into Your Interests
Many people get stuck with identifying themselves solely by their profession. If you’re feeling stuck, psychologists recommend finding your identity through hobbies, interests and developing your skills. Not sure what those are just yet? It’s easiest to think about what you enjoyed when you were younger. Too often, we grow old because we forget how to play, by bringing playfulness into our lives, we can ignite the creativity that’s living within.
(3) Make Peace With Your Past
It’s very easy to get caught up in the past, but that’s the thing, it’s in the past. Learning various coping mechanisms such as mindful meditation, yoga, or other forms of exercise can help you to release tension and focus on the present moment. But don’t underestimate the power of understanding your past, in order to move on, you need to acknowledge what has happened, seek help if needed and look forward to being a better version of yourself.
Highly Rated Meditation Apps: Calm, Headspace
Accessible Online Counselling: BetterHelp
(4) Develop Relationships With People
“...relationships are the landscapes in which identities exist.”
Our relationship with ourselves are also a by-product of the people we surround ourselves with. By developing relationships with a variety of people (friends, colleagues, family), you can expect to develop your interests and a stronger understanding of what you want, need and like in your life. A lot of our relationships (romantic and non-romantic) have brought us various experiences and those have helped us identify what we allow and want more of in our lives. Being around positive people is also good for our mental well-being!
(5) Seek Feedback
We don’t know what we don’t know - it’s as simple as that. Although our harshest critic tends to be ourselves, a good friend or family member can actually spot positive and negative things that we haven’t identified in ourselves. This feedback will allow you to grow and may even support a stronger perception of yourself.
“When you know who you are, you know what you need to do, instead of looking for permission from others to do what you already know you ought to do. It allows you to bypass tons of frustration caused by putting time into the wrong things.” - Adam Kirk Smith
Overall, you’re awesome! Sometimes, finding yourself and connecting with inner thoughts and passions can be tough - but don’t let that stop you! There’s always room for improvement and it’s never too late to embark on a new journey of self-discovery.
Sincerely,
The Awkward Adult
