When you were a little kid how many times did you hear the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
You may have asked yourself the same questions even when you were only six. But on the other hand how many times did you hear “just who do you think you are?” from your parents. This probably wasn’t asked in an inquisitive tone. It was most likely asked by one of your parent’s when you were doing something you shouldn’t have done. It could have come when you were playing or experimenting with a newfound interest.
Though, as people get older they start to ask themselves the same question.
How many times have you asked yourself that question, it could come out of nowhere, when you least expect it.
“What am I doing with my life.” or “where is my life going?” It could even be followed by “is this all there is to my life? There’s more to life than... well, this.” Most people want to gauge exactly where they are in life and especially want to know where their ife is headed, no matter what their age. We all just want a map with a big X on it that states “you are here.” But instead of the map stating "you are here" besides the X it should state, “who are you?”
Some people may think, “Well that’s a strange question. I know who I am. I’m me.” Think about the things that give you your self-identity. Your job, your educational background, etc…
Author of the best selling book Wishcraft, Barbara Sher, has a very interesting thing to say about your identity. "None of those things are your identity." From Wishcraft,
“This may surprise you, but if I were sitting down with you to help you choose a goal and design a life individually tailored for you, I would not ask you for any of this information. I would not want to know what you do for a living, unless you were really excited by your job. I would not want to know any of the things you put in a resume--your background, your experience, your skills. All too often we are skilled in things we never really chose, things we have had to do--like typing or scrubbing floors (those were my skills)--not things we love.”
The things in life we’re skilled in are things we have to do to get a job in the current marketplace, not things we love to do. What if you could do what you love or live the life that you love? What do you want? What do you love?
That is your identity.
We’ll have more next on how to put what you love into action to live your best life.
