Embracing Your Identity Beyond Work

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If your work identity dominates the way you see yourself, it may be helpful to reconsider this aspect of your identity.

‘I am…’ vs. ‘I work as…’.

Why defining ourselves through our work or job is not ideal?

Well, things can go wrong at work. 

Imagine this scenario: You worked hard on a presentation, practicing all night, but your client didn't show up for the meeting. Or even worse, they attended but weren't impressed, changed their minds, or went with another project.

And if you only view yourself through the lens of work, your self-perception may deteriorate, which can be challenging, for sure.

Instead of processing it as an ‘unsuccessful pitch’, you might find yourself thinking ‘I am not good enough’, ‘I am a failure’, or ‘I failed as a consultant’, ‘This is a huge embarrassment…’, you name it.

Embracing our wholeness is very important; while we may be deeply passionate about our work, we should remember that our identity extends beyond our jobs.

You can mess up at work, or not even have a job, and still be yourself, do what you love, connect with yourself and others and feel worthy and appreciated! 

Try to visualize yourself outside the office, outside the house, beyond the presence of your family, friends and partner.

You might wonder now: ‘How would I define myself then?’

The way I like to look at it, is through the lens of ‘values’.

Think of it this way: what we value adds a unique flavor to our lives, especially when we strive to align our work with those values. 

A list of values could include the following:

  • Compassion: to act with kindness towards those who are suffering.
  • Connection: to engage fully in whatever I am doing and be fully present with others.
  • Contribution: to help or make a positive difference to myself or others.
  • Courage: to be courageous or brave.
  • Creativity: to be creative.
  • Curiosity: to be open-minded, explore and discover.
  • Encouragement: to encourage and reward behavior that I value in myself or others.
  • Excitement: to engage in activities that are exciting, stimulating, or thrilling.
  • Physical fitness: to look after my physical and mental health and well-being.
  • Fun: to be fun and engage in fun-filled activities.
  • Generosity:Sharing and giving to myself or others.
  • Gratitude: to be grateful for and appreciative.
  • Humor: to see and appreciate the humorous side of life.

Take home message: 

Remember, what we cherish today may evolve with us, and that's all part of the beautiful journey 😊 

If you ever find yourself facing challenges in knowing what you value and exploring your inner interests and passion, don't hesitate to reach out and send me a message or an email on kindmindbydana@gmail.com ðŸ˜Š

Yours truly,

Dana 

Kindness is not just a virtue, it's a way of life. 

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