How Do You Identify Yourself?
Lori Saitz
Employee Well-being Consultant ?? Delivering results = 30+% reduction in workplace stress & anxiety, 81% more engagement & up to 200% ROI
If I asked you this question at a networking event, how would you answer? And I’m not talking about the popular conversation around gender-identity! I mean who are you at your core?
In today’s article, we’re getting into the sometimes unclear, but always fascinating world of self-identification. This is important to employee well-being because when people feel comfortable in their own skin, they are more focused, more productive, and more willing to support the goals of the company.
It's like stepping into an event where every attendee is an aspect of you. Sounds fun, right?
So, if we were in a conversation and I said, "Tell me something interesting about yourself," what's your response? Let's walk through how you might come up with an interesting and truthful answer.
What's My Name?
Your identity is the name tag you wear that tells the world who you are. But it's not just about your favorite color or whether you're Team Coffee or Team Tea. (Fun fact about me, I’m a total loose leaf tea snob, but I do love the smell of coffee.)
It's about the stories you tell, the values you hold, and the cultural melodies that play in the background of your life. It's the personal brand you carry into every room, even if that room is a Zoom call with a slightly unstable internet connection. <<< This was me on a call earlier today! ?? (crazy emoji)
Types of Identity
Think of your Personal Identity as your solo dance routine. It's where your quirks, your passions, and those secret talents (yes, even your uncanny ability to remember "Friends" dialogues) shine. It's what makes people remember you after the first meeting, besides, of course, your choice of Zoom background or bright colored shirt.?
Your Social Identity is about your connections, the roles you play in the lives of others, and how you fit into this giant puzzle called society. If we’re sticking with the dance analogy, it’s the mob on the dance floor with you. It's your relationships, your network, and your team of colleagues.
Your Cultural Identity includes your heritage, traditions, and the societal norms that shaped you. It's like the rhythm of your life's dance, influenced by the generations before you and the world around you.
Unearthing Your Treasure
All three of those types of identity contribute to making you who you are. But sometimes the social and cultural parts overshadow the personal and you lose touch with your core. So, how do you dig in and unearth the treasures that make you, you? It starts by getting quiet enough to hear your inner voice. Allowing yourself the space and time to listen to what your intuition is saying. It’s always talking, but we’re not always listening.
It’s easy to drown it out with all kinds of distractions and by listening and giving priority to all the other voices around you – your colleagues, your family, the media, etc. When you start listening to your OWN voice, you get messages about what’s true and right for YOU.
The result is you feel less stressed and more balanced. Less overwhelmed and more in control of your life situations. Less fight or flight and more focus.
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Getting Quiet Enough to Hear
There are many ways you can create space for accessing that inner voice. One of my favorites is through meditation. I can hear you now, though, saying, “But I’m not good at meditation. I can’t quiet all the thoughts in my head.” Valid belief! And I challenge that story you’re telling yourself about what meditation is.
Let’s put that on the shelf for a moment – because all the myths and misconceptions around meditation are an entire article in itself; one you can look for in this newsletter soon.
There are other ways to hear your intuition that don’t require you to sit quietly in meditation. You can…
Really all that’s required is to give yourself time to allow your inner thoughts to flow – without distractions. So, turn off your phone and turn your attention inward!
It’s Not Aways Easy
Of course, discerning what your inner voice is saying (vs the other voices coming at you) and figuring out who you truly are isn't always a walk in the park. Sometimes, it feels more like a hike through an overgrown forest without a map. Acknowledge that it's okay to be a work in progress and that sometimes, the external noise might drown out your inner voice. The key? Keep tuning back into your own frequency.
Your identity isn't set in stone; it's more like Play-Doh. It shapes and reshapes with every new experience, insight, or even what you might label a “mistake.” Change – whether you fight it or not – is the essence of the human experience. Allow yourself the freedom to evolve.
Understanding and sharing the unique mosaic of you isn't just an exercise in introspection. It's a powerful tool for personal growth, for making meaningful connections, and for standing out in the corporate world.
Look for additional tools and practices for creating a healthy and high performing workplace in my other articles. Go ahead and subscribe so you don't miss anything too.
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Lori Saitz is the CEO of Zen Rabbit, a forward-thinking health and wellness company specializing in helping corporations build healthy and high-performance focused teams and workplaces. She’s also the host of Fine is a 4-Letter Word. As an award-winning author, speaker, and broadcaster, she has worked with various organizations, including AARP, Insperity, Women in Technology, Infinity Broadcasting, and JK Moving Services.