Who Am I?

Hello, my name is blank, and I am a teacher, doctor, engineer, project manager, mother, student, etc. What I described was what you do, not who you are.

There is more to you than what you do for a living. What makes you, You? What is your passion? What do people say about you? So many of us, including myself, let what I did for a living take on my full identity. I would respond Coach, Teacher, and Principal. I had to realize there was more to me than that. I sought to encourage others and motivate them to be the best they could be. Now don’t get it twisted; I did not wake up one day and snap my finger and began to identify the true me. What I just described was a process; it took deep reflection and identifying my true passion, not my career but looking into my feelings.

That’s when I realized I am an encourager who naturally likes to motivate others. When I am encouraging and motivating others, there is a feeling I can’t describe. It comes from a genuine servant leadership style I have. This type of leadership involves valuing people, showing humility, listening, trust and care. That was my revelation into the question, Who am I? Now I turn the mirror towards you and ask you again, “Who Are You?” What do people say about you? What is it that you do that gives you joy and fulfillment? What talent, skills, or attributes do you have that give you that unbelievable feeling of purpose. Remember, this is beyond your title. You might like being a nurse, educator, police officer, athlete, or entertainer, but what is it about that occupation you like the most.

For some people like me, when I went through this process, it will take some deep thought and reflection. For others, you will be able to quickly identify two-three attributes, talents, or skills that go deeper than what you do for a living. Once you identify who you are, you can begin to boldly claim your uniqueness and walk in your purpose. If you get stuck, reflect on what people say about you. When you finish with a client, customer, or patient, do they say you have been helpful, caring, encouraging, or inspiring?

What trends are you seeing when you think about those affirmations?