I’ve talked in the past about cultivating an identity for yourself.
Examples
I’m a person who…
• takes care of their health • does anything for their friends • works hard for the things they love
I think crafting and molding an ‘identity’ is great if it gets you to take action toward the things you care about. But on the other end, I find it to be totally poisonous.
Recognizing your strengths, weaknesses, and innate interests is a healthy practice of self-awareness. But tying yourself down to an identity can do some serious damage in the long run.
Examples
I’m not a person who…
• goes to the gym • is musical • puts themselves out there
We are not some concrete structure where the rules and foundations are set in stone. It may be uncomfortable to deviate and stretch our comfort zone, but once we’ve done it, by definition, we are no longer a person who doesn’t do that thing.
Fuck your identity.
Keep your identity small. “I’m not the kind of person who does things like that” is not an explanation, it’s a trap. It prevents nerds from working out and men from dancing. Ideopunk