...YOUR ROAD TO SELF-DISCOVERY​

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Thinking about who you are will strengthen the connections among your mind, body, and behaviors. Also, you can get a better idea of where you are in life, as well as where you’re headed.

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Although, there are plenty of psychological theories out there about identity, con-sider these basic elements of your identity:

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1. Your personal family history. Where you were raised, who you grew up with, and the experiences you had as you matured from a baby all the way through your early adult years are powerful factors affecting the development of your personal identity. 

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• Consider sayings like, “You can take the girl out the hood, but you can’t take the hood out the girl” and their implications. In essence, where you come from plays a major role in who you are. 
   

• That being said, your history doesn’t have to be the end of the story when it comes to your present identity. An encouraging thing about life is that you can always take steps to be the person you want to be at any time. 

 

2. The “group” of people you hang out with. Much of who you are today can be at-tributed to the people you most closely affiliate with. Your friends probably share interests in the same kinds of things that you find interesting.

 

• Think about it—maybe, you’re into fitness and believe "strong is sexy," as do a few of your girls. Even though you may associate the idea of “cliques” with your teen years, it’s still true that we gravitate toward people who share similarities to ourselves.
   

• As with the first point, you can be selective about the people you choose to hang out with. If you want to be studious, you can look for others who spend time in libraries or taking classes. If you want to be successful, choose to hang out with people who you view as being good at their work and successful in life. 

 

3. Your physical appearance. The clothes you choose to wear, the hairstyle you have, and how you conduct yourself physically make up an important aspect of your personal identity. Although, your appearance isn’t the only thing that’s relevant about who you are, the fact is that your physical state provides people with a picture of who you are.

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4. Your feelings, thoughts, and beliefs about you. Your self-image is made up of how you feel about yourself as an individual. Also, what you believe to be true about yourself is a powerful force in determining your personal identity.

 

• For example, if you believe that you’re an overweight/underweight, unattractive person, then you might unconsciously portray those characteristics toward others. But, if you see yourself as someone who’s confident with her head held high no matter her size, you present a more positive identity to others.
   

• What you feel, think, and believe about yourself are major aspects of your overall identity.

 

Make it a point to think about who you are as an individual on this planet. Recognize that your personal identity is a complex mix of your history, your affiliations, and your thoughts and beliefs about yourself.

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Realize that you have considerable power to influence the type of identity you possess and show to others. As you develop your authenticity, stay true to who you really are. 

Here’s what you need to do today:

 

List 3 friends you hang out with the most. How do these friends affect your identity?

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Affirmation: I Embrace My Identity »