The daily details that define who you are
Identity Evolution no. 05
One of my favorite worksheets within the Identity Evolution workbook is not fancy or flashy or that sexy to look at, but it's one that I think (when done thoughtfully) is the most revealing.
The worksheet is a simple spread of 7 empty boxes, each open for insights from each day of your week. As it follows you through just 7 days, it asks you to examine what no longer makes sense (as well as what still does) from each day.
This is not about picking apart your perfect morning routine, or asking wether or not you want coffee or matcha to accompany you on your work desk. This is about examining the routines, practices, reactions, and behaviors that define how you use your time, moment by moment and day by day.
What are your reactions?
What are your habits?
What are the things you do unconsciously?
For just one week, can you make your movements conscious enough for you to ask yourself - do these make sense for the life, and person, I’m in the process of becoming?
For example, if you feel like you’re pulling back a layer and stepping into a more raw and unfiltered version of yourself, and you’re excited about operating from a new level of honesty and authenticity (with new fervor and confidence!) – wouldn’t your habit of avoiding the tough and emotionally challenging subjects of your life in your journalling practice be counter to your new identity?
Or if you’re in the process of stepping into a more creative and imaginative version of yourself – one that invites her artistry and playfulness into all of her projects and ways of thinking – wouldn’t that self-protective behavior of agreeing with everyone around you in your work space, and family, and friendships be dimming your light of uniqueness?
Turning up the volume on your day to day responses, thoughts, reactions, behaviors, and habits clarifies what you’re reinforcing as who you are – by how you move through your time.
Last week we discussed the term “identity,” and how it’s definition essentially comes from the understanding of “sameness.”
We clarified that what you choose to do, over and over, in subtle and big ways, reaffirms the identity that you embody now, and the identity you’re becoming.
By examining your movements every day just for one week – ONE WEEK – with intention you can discover A LOT about the identity you’re reaffirming, and how it conflicts or condones the identity you’re choosing for yourself.
I’m attaching the worksheet here separately for those of you who are interested in following along with this one practice.
In essence, it’s quite simple. Each day you reflect on:
What you did
What felt aligned
What didn’t feel aligned
The practices you’d like you keep
What you’d like to let go of
Nothing crazy.
And at the end of your week, you take just a few moments in the “Summary” section, to examine what naturally feels like it’s ready to be released and what naturally feels like it’s ready to be affirmed and grown. This information can then be used to determine how to utilize your time, day to day, moving forward.
Changing and evolving your identity – or in other words, releasing and shedding your old identity to step into your new one – does not happen over night. But if it’s done with consciousness, and intention, you can arrive into your new skin with a lot more clarity and purpose of direction than if you do it blind.
Last note – I'm hosting an Identity Evolution gathering for those of you who are currently moving through the workbook.
It doesn't matter if you're all the way through it or haven't even cracked it open – this gathering is for all of us to come together and discuss what's changing in our lives, and find inspiration from one another's experiences.
If you've signed up for the workbook, expect an email with more info coming soon, and save the date for June 20th.
*this gathering will be recorded for those who can't attend live.
Next week I'll be exploring the “pillars” of your identity – what that means, and how they form the scaffolding of who you're becoming.
See you then for more identity exploration :)
