Yesterday I sat down to my “Beautiful You Life Coaching Academy” work. In particular I needed to go back a chapter to work on figuring out “Who I am?” “My Ideal Client” and “My Coaching Difference.”
But I was seriously stuck.
How could something which seemed so simple on paper be so hard?
I put a shout out on my Facebook Fan Page to ask what you all thought of me and I got two responses. Which is totally cool because then it forced me to really search within myself as to who I really am.
Diving Into Who I Am?
Some of you are having the same sort of crisis. You do things but you don’t really know why you are doing them.
How many of you are doing yoga just because everyone is doing it? Or do you seriously love it?
Are you on the sugar free train because all the famous people are doing it? Or does it make you feel and look good?
Are you in a job you don’t like because it pays well, you worked hard and you like the accolades and rewards that come with it? Or do you actually love your job? Does it make your heart sing? Is it working with your talents and not against them?
There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her own perfect imperfection. To me that is the true essence of beauty.
Dr Steve Maraboli
Yes, your true beauty is embracing and being comfortable in who you are. Don’t get me wrong there are always elements of our character that can be shaped. I’m sure we can all testify to trials that have humbled us, taught us patience and given us a heart full of gratitude.
Your identity is not what you do for a living.
Often the first question a person will ask us on first meeting is “What do you do?”
I’m a teacher and life coach.
And in that we so often tie up our identity in that ‘title.’ What happens when you lose that ‘title?’
I’ve heard the following ‘Oh I used to be a business executive but now I’m just a mum.‘
What the? You seriously justified that at one stage here you were in a career highlight but now your new role is ‘just a mum.’
Have you thought about it like this? (And I steal this line from Craig Groeschel – Pastor of LifeChurch TV. I heard this at Colour Conference).
‘It takes someone pretty special to raise the next generation for God.’
Excuse me! Can I get an ‘amen.’ Seriously your role as a mum is so vital. You are raising the next generation and spurring them on to use their unique giftings and talents. That’s pretty cool huh?
Or I used to use this one prior to teaching ‘I’m just a waitress. But I’m studying to be a teacher.’ Again. Justification of our role. How cool would it have been if I had swapped it to being that of ‘I serve others.’
The point being so much of who we are is often tied up in what we do.
But who we are is not so much about what we do but simply in who we are.
What are your best features?
What do you like doing?
What makes your heart sing?
What do you absolutely detest? (I detest raw tomatoes and social injustices).
What is your personality?
So why do we keep trying to be who we are not?
Because we compare and are dissatisfied with what we’ve been given. Or sometimes it’s simply just following the crowd.
It’s time to take inventory ladies!
My challenge to you this week is to answer “Who am I?”
And if you’d love to share please comment below. We would love to hear from you. Also if you liked this post please share using the buttons below. I’d love to get some conversations started on this one.
Sooo true Di. I had always defined myself as a teacher. I stopped to have a family and realised that teaching really isn’t me. I then spent time editing from home and recently resigned. A friend said to me ‘what’s next? I can’t see you sitting still for any length of time.’ Being a mum raising godly children is my favourite, most challenging and most ‘me’ role I’ve had. And I’ve finally stopped for long enough to know what I really love & thrive on.
Yay! Awesome revelation Beck. It’s a bit sad that we can focus on the ‘outside’ career and not think that being a mum is important and a vital role. It’s definitely challenging isn’t it. I am so glad you know what you love and thrive on. Thank you for honouring you!
“Who am I” you’re right that’s a tough one. being so many things all at once. a mother a wife a career person (if you work) for me atm it’s living with a disability. These in sone way define ‘who I am” but it’s not really “who I am” personally. yes im all those things but the REAL me gets lost in all of these different faces. I think that Im still on a journey to finding ME.
Hi Debbie. Yes. Our titles shape us absolutely but as you said they don’t define us as such. We are so much more than our titles. We are all on the journey of finding ourselves. It constantly evolves and changes anyways as we navigate the different challenges and adventures. You are doing so well. Thanks for sharing and being vulnerable with us.
I love this. On our last trip to Bali my boyfriend and I made a point of not asking anyone what they did, and instead asked them what they were into, or what they loved. Much more insightful!
Love that Claire. I’m going to try that one next time I meet someone new 🙂