Who Am I Now?
I remember standing in my High School parking lot on the last day of my senior year. The sun was shining and Alice Cooper was blasting “Schools Out Forever”. I was a high school graduate, but I had no idea of my identity or purpose in life. It was the first time I asked myself “Who am I now?”
In our younger years our identity was often defined by external markers- what we do, where we live and what is our role in society and our family. Our identity kinda found us.
As we age the contours of our identity shift. They are more nuanced and can take on a deeper understanding of what gives value to our life. Our identity is shaped by experiences, relationships, acquired values and societal roles that evolve throughout our life.
We have the opportunity to become who we want to be.
Please let that sink in for a minute.
This shift can be both liberating and challenging as we move beyond the external labels and explore new dimensions of ourself.
May I offer ten steps to help us on our journey to discover and embrace our new identity.
Reflect on your life experiences.
Let go of old labels.
Explore new interests and passions.
Embrace change and flexibility.
Seek purpose beyond traditional roles.
Reevaluate your values and priorities.
Cultivate mindfulness and self-awareness.
Surround yourself with supportive people.
Be patient with yourself.
Celebrate who you are.
From the ambitions of our youth to the reflective wisdom of our later years, who we are , how we perceive ourselves shifts over time. May I suggest you enjoy the new you. And I am happy to meet you…again.
Enjoy your day.
Just a little extra-
Aging is not the loss of who we are, but the unfolding of who we will be in our future. One of the most difficult aspects of aging is the process of letting go. However, letting go is not about abandoning who we are, but rather creating space for who we want to become.
Aging allows us the excitement of asking ourselves once again-
”Who am I now”
References
My thoughts when answering the question- Who am I now?