Chapter 1: Become self-aware
Who do you want to become?
Who do you envision yourself as? What are the characteristics? How do you behave in this identity? Who do you want to become?
Really take this moment to envision who you want to be as a professional and in your life.
Spend 15-30 minutes reflecting on your identity now and who you want to become. Find a comfortable spot or relaxing environment where you can really reflect.
Who do you want to become?
It’s not every day that you’re asked, “who do you want to become?” I’m asking, though. I want you to reflect on the identities that are important to you going forward. Which identities you want to embrace? Which ones you want to let go of? And, which ones you want to grow into?
Identities help guide our behaviors. For instance, I identify with being a coach. I ask a lot of questions. I embrace that I love to ask questions. I’m also a yoga instructor. Yoga instructors are typically active and calm. I like that identity and make a point of exercising regularly and working on my inner state in order to project a calm outer presence.
So, let’s start reflecting.
What identities do you identify with at this time?
Professional affiliations
Industries
Companies
Schools
Interests
Athletics
Clubs & organizations
Religious affiliations
Abilities
Food preferences
Sex preferences
Pronouns
Gender
Geographic
Language(s)
Family and/or friends
Nationality
Ethnicity
Race
Political affiliations
And, anything else you can think of. You may have 20 identities! Write them all down in a list.
Now, next to each identity, list why each is important to you?
Next, write which behaviors you associate with each identity?
Are there any identities that you want to grow out of? Let go?
Are there any new identities that you want to grow into?
Who do you want to become, both professionally and personally? What’s important to you about this?
What are the behaviors you associate with the new identity?
What will it take to shift into this new identity?
What’s one small step you can start with?
Visualize your complete list of identities together as you. Who is this person? What do they do during the day? What do they do at work? What do they do on vacation? Play with the images in your head.