We Are Not What We Do
I see/hear this quote often:
“The difference
between
who you are
and
who you want to be
is
what you do.”
Sounds motivating, doesn’t it?
But what if I told you that this quote could be 180 degrees opposite from the truth, and lead to frustration, a lack of fulfillment and desperation—if not outright disaster?
And Your Point Is…?
We don’t BECOME what we DO.
We DO what we’ve BECOME.
So What?
It all hinges on how you interpret “…what you do.”
If we fall into the trap of believing we need to DO certain things IN ORDER to become who we want to be, then our approach to our identity is Outside-In. Ultimately, we end up depending on things in our environment to define who we are (relationships, achievement, circumstances, etc.). Our identity becomes based on “performance.” At best, we’ll only be a better version of who we’ve always been. It’s a recipe for disaster.
“At best, we’ll only be a better version of who we’ve always been.”
An alternative interpretation is more helpful: We DO certain things BECAUSE we are who we want to be, then we purpose ourselves to live accordingly. This approach is Inside-Out. It starts with an identity of the person we want to be—even if we’re not perfectly fulfilling it yet. With our identity clearly defined, we then set goals, influence our circumstances and practice behaviors that align with who we want to be.
“…we then set goals, influence our circumstances and practice behaviors that align with who we want to be.”
This inside-out approach is the essence of my upcoming book, Are You who You Want to Be: How Knowing Your Identity Lets You Live Your True Purpose. It’s not abstract psychological theory, it’s a practical solution that reveals the truth about who you want to be, the surprising simplicity of discovering it, how faith informs that identity and the challenges of living out the identity you were made for.
The Big Picture
“Who am I?” is one of humanity’s most compelling questions. Depending on other people and your environment to define you is a hopeless way to discover who you want to be.
“We don’t BECOME what we DO. We DO what we’ve BECOME.”
Your Next Step
To get more insight on discovering that person you truly want to be, go to AreYouWhoYouWantToBe.com. You’ll find out more about the book and purchase it if you think it’s for you.
