Who are you? It is a simple question, right? How many times have you been in a meeting where you have had to introduce yourself and tell something about yourself? It might go something like this: “Hi, I’m Jenny, I’m an account manager. I grew up in Wisconsin. I moved to Dallas after college. I’ve been here for 10 years. My husband and I have two kids and one fur baby. My hobbies are Yoga, when I have time, and going to my children’s soccer games.” Most often adults identify themselves based on their roles. That is what we know. We are someone’s child, friend, co-worker, employee, teammate, spouse, parent, to name a few examples. We take pride in those roles. We have responsibilities associated with them. We even set our goals around them.

Can you describe yourself without using any roles? “Hi I’m__________.” Do you know who you are? Not just your name, your job, your achievements, your hobbies, your relationship status, but the true to the core YOU? Our roles and life experiences have a part in navigating our life journey. We plan for them, struggle in them, and grow in them. They do become part of our identity. Peel that layer back. Take away your resume, your title, and describe yourself based on your qualities, values, and beliefs. Hmm…it really makes us think. (If you need help, ask your friends and family. Those closest to us are pretty good at rattling off our good qualities!) It may take some time and maybe feel a little out of the box, but as they come to mind, write them down. What are those words jumping off the paper at you? Read them out loud. That’s you!

It is easy to fall into the motions and expectations of our daily roles and responsibilities. However, when you take them on as yourself, that’s the true to the core YOU. You do not become the role; it becomes a mode to let the true YOU shine. Keep your list. Add to it. Read it. How can you purposefully be the best YOU today?