Seriously, who are you? Humanity’s identity crisis

We live in an interesting world where humanity struggles with an identity crisis. For the majority, we honestly don’t know who we really are. Why do I know that? Because I ask at least one new client a day, “who are you?”

Before I share typical responses, what would be your answer?

Virtually all of the answers are about work and family roles, race, culture, genetics, religion and personality traits. Typical answers I hear are , “I am a laid back Australian and proud father and husband” or “I am an Irish wife, interior designer and mother of three.”

However, we can’t be our culture because when we were born, we existed before we were cultured. We can’t be our genes because we only use 3% of them and they are just code instructions to help us adapt to our environment. We can’t be a father, mother, husband, wife, brother or sister because we exist with or without having these roles.

Our identity also can’t be associated with beliefs or personality traits because they are learned and can be unlearned. These ways of behaving are chosen because they are deemed appropriate and effective.

We are none of these things and when I facilitate the moving out of identifying with these things as part of our true identity with my clients (I call it Processing Out), some of them cross their arms and say something like, “Geez, George, you’ve left me with nothing!” They feel unhinged and in total limbo. I don’t seem to tire from the joke of saying that this is the end of the session and I will see them next week. I recall one guy saying he wouldn’t leave the office until I told him who he was. We laughed a lot after that moment.

When we don’t know our true identity, we are left to assume we are these things. That is not helpful because we end up defending what is meant to be changeable.

Plants will change their shape, texture, odour and colour to attract insects to increase their chances of cross pollination. Trees will grow in different directions to ensure they get more water and sunlight. Nature adapts at every opportunity while we defend a version of being that we think is really us. This is why we struggle and get stuck. This is also why life does not get better for us in a timely manner. The key is to change what you believe, think, feel and behave.

So who are you – that can change all that?

What if you are the energy that cannot be created nor destroyed? What if you are that which can change form on an ongoing basis?

What if the real you is dynamic and can take on any personality and see the world in infinite ways?

What if the real you is the puppeteer with the strings and not the puppet. What if we are lost in the identity of only being one personality puppet?

What if you are unlimited and forever expanding by your unique experiences and wisdom because of the Physics Law that states “Energy is neither created nor destroyed, it is merely transformed from one form to another”

Can we honour and dignify our self worth in any better way than understanding and relating to our true identity in this way?

What perspective does this give you? How does it affect your self esteem and confidence? What happens to you when you expand your awareness so you’re more in touch with your true identity?

Meditation is a great way to still the noise created by your version of being and slip into the power of reinventing into a new version. This is how we re-align to nature’s flow. Our true identity can adapt on an ongoing basis to versions compatible with the thoughts, feelings and actions that make our desired destiny inevitable.

Can you share empowering moments when you felt the love and power of your true identity, how it affected the way you saw yourself and everything around you? 

 George Helou is the founder of EP7 – Empowered for Purpose in 7 Steps. Life Coach, Work Culture Consultant, Author and Motivational Speaker, George has 15 years personal development experience and is based in his Life Coach Perth Office in Subiaco. 08 9380 8350. www.lifecoachperth.com

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