The following nine steps will help you find your own identity and piece together your true sense of self. With a little time and patience, you’ll soon find yourself and stop living as someone else.

1. Monitor Your Feelings

People like to say emotions are fleeting, but where they come from speaks to who you are. As you go through your daily routine, monitor how you feel and react to different experiences. Do you feel like a failure if you must push back a deadline, or feel fulfilled if you accept a leadership role?

The things that make you happy, scared and excited will tell you about the core emotions that form your personality. You can identify your strengths and weaknesses and begin building the foundation of your identity.

2. Discover Your Personality

Your personality contains the core of your identity. Consider that the following FREE personality test https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test if you’re unsure how to describe yourself. It can more clearly define your preferences, likes and dislikes and even your compatibility with friends and love interests. Putting a title or name to each part of yourself solidifies your identity so you can grasp and hold onto it.

3. Talk with Your Loved Ones

You may find it difficult to pinpoint parts of your identity, so talk with your loved ones. People who know you well can be a great sounding board for what makes you happy or sad and how you react in different situations.

4. Identify Your Heroes

Whom do you look up to, past or present? People idolize and respect their heroes because they have admirable personality traits. You might want to draw on these people for inspiration. Write down the traits you admire. Which of these traits are important for you to embody?

5. Reflect on the Past

The best self-awareness happens when you reflect on your past. Look closely at your mistakes and successes. Think about how major life events shaped you into who you are today. If you prioritize this practice and start a self-reflection routine you’ll always learn something new about yourself and grow from it. (Self-Reflection found in the Blogs)

6. List Your Core Values

Everyone has a core set of values that drives them. Your core values are what define your morals and set the limits on what you will or will not do. These fundamental beliefs determine what’s right and wrong for your life and guide you through every decision.

You can also have core values that aren’t related to ethics and beliefs. Your code of conduct may adhere to principles like:

● Always give 110%.

● Never stop improving yourself.

● Think of others before yourself.

● Dream big and don’t settle.

● Make a difference every day.

Every standard and ideal you believe in will form your identity’s core and help redefine it when you feel lost.

7. Explore New Things

Sometimes people feel disconnected from themselves because they don’t know what they enjoy. If you’ve spent months or years only focused on taking care of your family, working or running a business, you may not know what you like to do for fun.

Hobbies are a critical part of your identity. They shape your interests; give you joy and help you grow through new experiences.

8. Avoid Judging Yourself

No one can thrive in an environment where they feel judged and uncomfortable. Avoid judging yourself as you go on a personal journey to cultivate your personality. Accept your findings with grace so you don’t put undue pressure on your growth.

Even if new things surprise you or contradict who you thought you were, embrace them and continue moving forward so self-love follows each discovery.

9. Grow with Yourself

Even as you struggle to find yourself, remember that identity isn’t a fixed concept. You’ll always change and adapt as life goes on and you experience significant life events and new situations. Don’t expect yourself to stay the same. Healthy growth and a lifetime of changes are positive signs that you fully understand and accept your identity.

Book into a Identity Session with Kate to create your Full-Potential