Have you ever been with someone and you surprise that person by saying or doing something that is not normal for you. Stunned, they blurt out, “Who are you?”
Self-Reflection
That is the question for you today “Who are you?” It appears to be a simple question, but there are many layers to the answer. Before I wrote this blog, I decided to answer the question myself to capture the different aspects of my identity. So, take one minute now, and off the top of your head quickly answer the question by writing “I am (fill in the blank)” repeatedly.
How many identifying characteristics did you come up? Did you stay on the positive attributes or did some negative thoughts pop into your head and/or onto your list?
There are more than twenty things on my list that “I am.” My two personal favorites are “I am a woman who is not defined by my age,” and “I am a spiritual being who wants to help others achieve their dreams.” And then there are fun ones like I am a sailor, a mermaid, a snowflake, a golfer, a dear friend.
Navigating Judgments
Are you happy with your list? Do you take pride and have gratitude for who you are and what makes you unique? Did you pass judgment on yourself? Remember, it is so easy to judge ourselves, to judge others, or to be judged by the people in our lives. My advice to you is simple: Don’t subscribe to any of these judgments.
For example, I’m a barbie-type girl. (Ah, please don’t roll your eyes and judge me now!) I am a petite blond with blue eyes, reasonably fit woman—especially for my age.
Being a full-time sailor, my makeup regime is simply eyebrow pencil and, if I go out, some lipstick. My hair is always piled on top my head, and no matter what I have on I always try to look “cute.” Even if I’m just hanging out on the boat all day and night, I still put on a little sundress for our happy hour.
I sometimes feel judged by others for having that “barbie look.” But you know what? I own it. It’s who I am and have always been. So please don’t judge me for that. And I won’t judge you for who you are. Because each one of us is exactly who we are and can become whoever we want to be.
Envision Growth… Who are You Becoming?
This leads to the next question, “Who do you want to be?” Answer that question now by making a new list by once again starting the answers with “I am…” Using “I am” is a primary rule of manifesting, because even though you think you may not be something yet, recognize that deep down part of you already aligns with it.
Now take a moment to imagine that you have fully become each item on your list and imagine how excited and happy you feel! As you think about each item, define what steps you can take towards becoming that (e.g. you can’t become a published author if you don’t start writing).
You must always take steps in the direction of who you want to be so that the universe will open more pathways to making it happen.
And back to judgment, if you have a dream, don’t listen to other people’s negative perceptions of that dream. When I first told people I was going to become a full-time sailor, I told them I was going to sell my house, buy a sailboat with my new love, and sail around the world. I was met with a lot of skepticism and concerns about that lifestyle.
But I just laughed internally, knowing some people thought it was a pipe dream. But I knew it would happen, and it did! So don’t subscribe to other people’s perceptions of you. Carefully choose the people with whom you share your dreams.
What Truly Matters?
What truly matters at the end of the day is that we look beyond the physical/cultural nature of people we meet and reach into the depths of each other’s souls to share our universal connection. Be proud and confident about who you are and know that you are unique and a vital contributor in the human mosaic of souls.
And always be expanding the vision of who you are now into who you are becoming.
