All Things Inspired

You may ask yourself, who am I? While a profound question, perhaps a better question to ask is, who am I becoming?

From the beginning of time, people have asked of themselves, "who am I?" It's a profound question of identity and purpose. Perhaps a better question to ask today is, "who am I becoming?" When you see your reflection in a mirror, it may prompt you to ask the "who am I" question. And that is a question that may only be truly answered when you are willing to step outside of yourself, if you will, and see what others see you as.

This would describe the beginning of self awareness. In this conscious moment you must examine your values, beliefs, and core aspirations. To do so, consider the following perspectives that may give you insight to who your really are.

Focus on "becoming" - most people, when trying to figure out who they are, fixate on what they perceive as their problems, and how to repair their self image. Focus not on a fix, but on your experiences in life. How do those experiences define you? Where can growth from this perception begin?
Avoid seeking a definitive solution - you may tend to search for tangible answers in defining who you are. Let go of this expectation and allow yourself to grow into this answer through new possibilities you encounter on your journey.
You must look beyond labels - it is possible that you may label your identity based on what you do in life. Whether it be your job title, family role, or something more socially based. Your true identity is not often found based on these roles. When you struggle with this perception, the question of "who am I" may feel limiting as you seek to define your core sense of self being. Avoid the process of labeling.
Is it spirituality? - we mentioned earlier that self awareness can be examined through your values and beliefs. If so, consider taking assessment from within that is spiritually based, or the act of soul searching.

Discovering who you are takes commitment to be open-minded, eliminating all preconceived opinions of yourself for the sake of seeking to bring to light who you truly are. You may not realize how difficult, yet important, this is in a world that will constantly try to make you out to be something else. The key to really determining who you are first comes when you decide not to pretend to be someone you are not. Aristotle once said that knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. Wisdom comes from knowing your true self.

When you discover who you are, you really become empowered to live a new authentic life by the standards of who you are. In a sense, that is accepting yourself for who you are and that can make you invincible. To put it another way, it is not who you are that holds you back from growing. It is often who you think you are not!

You may be asking yourself at this point, how do I discover who I am? Let's answer that question by asking these additional questions...

Have you defined your core values? Not sure what those are; ask yourself why you feel the way you do about certain situations you encounter in life. Do you have a sense of right and wrong?
Have you considered writing a personal journal? This could be a great way to express your feelings in such a way you can reflect back on these because they've been recorded. The more you express your thoughts and feelings, the more you shape who you are.
Do you have a peaceful place that you like to go to reflect? This can be a terrific environment to explore your mindfulness through solitude.
Are you willing to try new things? New experiences can often shape opinions of what you like and who you really are. Be wise to the fact that this may take patience to find the experiences that fit, by encountering experiences that don't fit you.
Have you identified your passion? You'll know it when you find it because you will lose yourself in time through the enjoyment and energy this activity brings you. What makes you feel most alive? That could be your passion!
Do you lean on others for support? What qualities do you admire in other people you know? Have your friends or family mentioned what they see in you?
What do you feel your strengths are? List them out, then take time to reflect on these strengths. Do they define you?

These are just a few examples of questions you might ask yourself. You could possibly think of additional questions to help you define who you are.

If you have struggled to find out who you are, don't be discouraged. Sometimes our journey through this life becomes an exploration. We are always looking for confirmation of who we are, and what we stand for. That's okay. Your values today may not be the same as what they were when you were younger. Finding out who you are is not a destination. It is a continuous journey, that may constantly change as we continue to grow older and wiser. Just remember that who you are is vital in achieving a meaningful, authentic, and fulfilling life. It is the compass on your journey, and provides you prosperity.

You should feel confident, not necessarily in discovering who you are today, but who you are about to become tomorrow because of the life experiences that have brought you to this point in life. Enjoy the journey of growth as you seek to discover who you are.

Be inspired! Inspire others!