The 3 Worst Methods for Identity Discovery

1. Establishing a Career or Title

This is an Identity Discovery typical error, but finding Your Identity makes sense. People have been categorized by their jobs for ages. Everybody in the town called you "the doctor" or "the blacksmith. Names like Baker, Muller, or Molnar were created in this way.

About fifty years ago, things began to shift. That change's pace has quickened but since.

For our grandparents, displaying steadfast allegiance to a business was normal. They were referred to as "John, the director at Ford" or "Bob, the mechanic around the corner."

However, it's possible that throughout their careers, your parents worked at finding Your Identity in multiple places. They most likely also frequently changed their areas of specialization.

And moving to a new company every two years is becoming rather typical.

Therefore, finding Your Identity and defining your identity through your profession is probably not a good idea. Even if it's your desired job, I don't care. I don't care whether it includes paid time off and family health insurance. Moreover, it doesn't matter how hard you worked to earn it.

Jobs change as well as people, priorities, and other factors.

This does not imply that you cannot genuinely adore and savor your work. Do not allow your employees to define who you are.

2. Understanding a Relationship

Most of you, I'd venture, have experienced heartbreak at least once. And if you haven't, just take my word for it when I say it's awful. Big.

The hardest aspect is that you can never predict when it will occur. I'm not simply referring to ending your relationship with your real love. Losing a cherished mentor, drifting away from a lifelong friend, or having to deal with a family member's passing are all consequences of ending a relationship. Indeed, some people have a relationship with their jobs, so if you're not careful, it may even result in you losing your job.

If the relationship was significant, it will undoubtedly leave a gaping vacuum in your life, that much is clear. You don't want to tie a piece of your identity to it, which would enlarge the hole 100 times more.

Once more, this does not imply that you don't value the connection. Or that your level of commitment is insufficient. If you're fortunate, that relationship might end up being the best thing you've ever experienced. But that does not imply that you are that way.

3. Recognizing a passion

Passion inflation is a reality in our time. People frequently utter phrases like "I freaking love my new mascara," "I love running," and "I love doughnuts."

Real life must now begin. It is silly and harmful to love a product, an activity, or particular cuisine. It's how we got attention-seeking Instagram posers who get depressed if their most recent photo doesn't receive 1.000 likes and people with unhealthy relationships with food.

However, there is another, more harmful form of passion identification in use today. And even though several extremely wise individuals have warned everyone not to fall for this nonsense, it keeps drawing new victims. You are aware of what I'm referring to.

There is a lot of "just follow your passion" nonsense out there.

I believe that this is the worst piece of advice I have ever heard. It combines Points 1 and 3—two significant identity errors—into one enticing poison. Then it is provided in various tastes and styles, including pub-toilet sayings such

To give such quotes more credence, they are frequently attributed to Mark Twain, Steve Jobs, or Albert Einstein. They never actually stated these things. You would know that they would roll over in their graves if you took the time to read their bios. But it is unimportant.

Having passion is not a bad thing. Having some can be quite beneficial, whether or not it is related to your profession.

But interests shift as you do. And you can never predict how or when you'll change. Don't allow your interests to define who you are.