True identity
This blog is written to those of you who are or maybe struggling with identity. Identity crises are huge in this day and time and I wanted to encourage all who read this blog to really seek to find your true identity. There are so many voices out in this world dictating to us who we should be and who they think we are but we really have to define our own identities. If any of you were like me that grew up with an absent father then you truly understand what it feels like to not have someone to mimic or a role model to follow. I spent many years trying to figure out who I was and what my true identity was supposed to be. It took many years to finally realize that following poor examples and being led to and fro was not the answer. I spent many years doing what others said I should do and listening to some of the most ignorant people possible. I jumped through hooops and went down some very crazy paths that could have taken my life if I had continued down such paths. I am telling you all this because transparency is key to receiving this message. If I can tell you how it was and relate to this struggle then it makes it easier for you as the reader to receive the message.
As a life coach and mentor I talk to many people on an ongoing basis. I seek to help people of many ages, demographics, sexes, and ethnicities about this very topic. I challenge people to find their true identity through certain means such as; self- examination, retraining ones thought process, self- awareness, and, mental spiritual and physical self-preservation. This last one is because if we don’t protect ourselves then others will invade our space. Human nature senses weakness and thinks that this means that anyone can speak into our lives without being invited. Part of knowing your true identity is telling people when to stay out of your business. Part of knowing who you are as a person helps one to realize that people should not and cannot just speak what they want when they want into our lives without first being invited. Another key part of knowing your true identity is realizing that you will not please everyone at the same time. Another true aspect of knowing your true identity is not really caring about everyone’s opinion of you and completely being firm in who you are in God’s eyes.
So in a nut shell we have a huge job in finding out who we really are as individuals in this world. Who am I? What am I called or destined to do? Who should I befriend? Who should be in my inner circle? Who am I away from my routes? Who am I outside of what my parents said I was? Who am I independently of my friends? Who am I outside my religion or relationship with God? Should my identity be independent of my religion or relationship with God? These are all very valid questions that one would and should ask in this life. The ability to truly understand who you are is complicated only when you go through life doing whatever others tell you to do to your detriment. It becomes very simple to walk in your own individual identity when you follow your heart and listen to what your heart says is the right thing to do. Typically if it feels wrong it most likely is wrong. No one has to tell us when we are off our heart does it first.
If I could leave you with some words of advice it would be to be proud of who you are as you are defining yourself. Remember that God uniquely and individually made you and after that the mold was broken. So when you are not who you were called to be and walk in a false sense of identity the world is missing a very vital part of this world and who you should be. We can only function so long and go so far as someone we are not before we become frustrated and stuck in that place. Remember frustration in identity is unfulfilled expectation so one who is frustrated probably is not walking in true identity. Lastly it takes a real man or woman to walk against the grain, and to do what is different, and to walk proudly doing so. Also remember that individuality is not a popularity contest so if you go through life trying to please everyone else then you will always fall short of being who you truly are. True identity is wholeness (spirit, soul, and body) walking complete in who you are as an individual.
Love you all and God bless. D