When you think about the word identity, what comes to mind? What do you think about your own identity? How would people describe you? How would you describe yourself? Are you happy with your identity?
Your identity and how you view yourself and how you want others to view you is very important in how you take on and tackle new challenges. From your identity springs your values, or what is important to you as a person. Those values then further dictate your priorities. These priorities are easy and come natural to you. So if your goals align with your identity, values, and priorities, it will be easy to follow through on.
As an example, I identify myself as a Mom and a wife, a fitness professional, an empath, spiritual, an introvert, and a learner/student. It is very important to me (my values) as a person to be there for my children, be honest, have compassion, and I need downtime at the end of the day. I also value my health and well-being, want to encourage others and see them succeed, and to be a good wife. From my values I have natural priorities that come easily to me. These include having work/life balance so I can have time for my children and husband. Getting to the gym at least 5 days a week. Eating clean and healthy. Seeing my clients succeed and improving my business around them so they can succeed. I’m also always looking to learn and grow.
My point is, when you understand your identity, you can then get an understanding of your values and priorities. So when you try to incorporate a new goal into your life or even a lifestyle change/choice, if it matches up with your identity, values and priorities you are naturally going to feel more motivated to do that goal or choice. If it doesn’t match up or align with your identity, values and priorities, you will burn out and feel miserable.
For example, if someone asked me to join a company that paid me a big salary, but also where I had to work 60+ hours a week, travel 3+ days out of the week, and my boss asked me to lie constantly to protect the interests of the company, I wouldn’t feel so good about it, the pay wouldn’t matter to me. I’d be missing out on the things I value - my family, integrity, health… I would eventually get burned out.
But if I conduct my life in a way that it matches my identity, my values and priorities, I would feel fulfilled, not stressed and happy. My life wouldn’t feel toxic.
And if all my Why’s (think back on yesterday’s 5 Why’s exercise) line up with my identity, values and priorities, I will easily feel motivated to follow through on whatever goal is at hand. So think back on your Why from yesterday. Does it align with your identity, values and priorities? If it doesn’t, can you try doing the exercise again until you find that your Why does align? Try asking the main question in different ways and see if your answer changes.
So your homework for today is to draw 3 columns on a piece of paper, and at the top write the topics Identity, Values and Priorities. If it is easier, you can start with one of your Identity traits and flow across. As an example: I want to be a good parent, so it is important for me to spend time with my children, so it is a priority that I play with them for an hour a day. Or a second example pertaining to this challenge - I want to be fit, so it is important for me to make it to the gym, so I will make it a priority to bring my workout bag and shoes with me to work tomorrow so I can go to the gym on my way home.
Once you figure out your identity, values and priorities, look back on your why from yesterday and see if they align. Do they? Can you figure out how to make them align so it feels more natural in following through with your goals?
Click like to let me know you finished today’s Mindset challenge. Also comment if you want to share or share how you feel about this exercise.
