19 Feb You can have more than 1 answer to the big question … who am I?
At some stage in life, most, if not all of us, ask ourselves something like … who am I?
Actually, more accurately, at SEVERAL stages of life we might ask this question!
Most obviously, through our adolescent / teenage years this question can be very much front and centre. But then at other stages of change, like when we finish our studies and enter the workforce, or when we get married, or when we have children, change careers, retire … I could go on but I think / hope you get the point. Asking this question is relevant and appropriate multiple times throughout our lives.
I don’t think this will surprise many readers. But what might be more surprising is my belief that … you can have more than one answer to that question at any point in time. In fact, you should have more than one answer to that question!
To be clear, I’m not talking about some version of multiple personalities here. Rather, what I’m suggesting is that we’re never just one thing; or another way to think about it is we’re always many things, at the same time.
So if you feel that answering that big question sometimes is difficult, or confusing, or complex … that’s OK. It’s supposed to be!
Let me share with you just one example …
… I am, at the moment, a husband and father, a son and brother, a friend and colleague. I’m a speaker and writer, a coach and mentor. Once again, I could go on but the point is, I’m many things all at the same time.
Why do I think this is worth writing about?
Because in my experience, I don’t think enough people think about this. And further, there are consequences to not thinking enough about this. By defining ourselves too narrowly, which I believe is what most people do, we rob ourselves of much of the colour and wonder that we are, that we bring to the world. By not recognising and appreciating all the various aspects of ourselves, we don’t FULLY appreciate and value our true selves.
As always, I hope this makes sense. And I hope it’s been thought provoking in a helpful way. Here’s to ALL of you enjoying happiness and wellbeing. Dr Tim