Category: Identity

2020 shouldn’t be written off.

Published on by erikcpanzer

2020 may be a year that we are all glad to see the end of, but that should not mean we disregard all that we learned from it.

Yes many devastating things happened, but when faced with adversity, we are given a great opportunity to learn and grow.

2020 was a year where it may have felt like so much was out of our control; lock downs, lay offs, mask wearing. The list goes on.  

Although many things were out of our control, there was still so much that was in our control.

Mindset, how you view the world around you

Thoughts, what you think about

Attitude, how you interact with the world around you

Habits, what your consistent behaviors are 

These are all things that we can control, no matter what is going on around us. A healthier balance of control with these can lead to improved well being.

Start with You. Intentionally focus on these areas to improve your life, and over time with a continued intention for improvement, you’ll progress towards fulfillment.

Become fully responsible for yourself!

2020 taught us that life is fragile, it’s a gift, and it can change in an instant.

Give time to yourself. Connect with friends. Learn new things. Explore new places. Read more books. Do what makes you fulfilled. Live it up!

Go make the most out of 2021 for yourself.

Identity – What You Do Is Not Who You Are

Published on by erikcpanzer

Who are you?

I challenge you to answer that question without mentioning what you do for work…Try it, it’s not easy!

That question, usually when it’s answered, it outlines ones identity.

For athletes, this answer can show that their identity is confined to their sport. The same applies to any other persons job; a teacher, doctor, business person, cleaner, check out clerk, etc.

Through committing so much time and energy to your job, it leads to this attachment, and you begin identifying yourself with your job.

So, what happens when your job isn’t going well? You’d probably tell me that life isn’t going well. And the same goes for the opposite, if your job is going well, your life is going well.

This shouldn’t be the case. I believe that these are two different aspects of ones lifes. Your job is only a portion of your identity. Yes it plays a role in it, but it is not the main identifier of an individual.

Your job is what you do, it is not who you are.

Being able to accept this and separate the two things can be incredibly challenging.

You are you; no tag, no attachment, before you are anything else. Just you, your characteristics, and your behaviours.

To help separate your job and your identity, I encourage you to establish yourself outside of your sport or work. Take the time to step back from your sport or work and look at who you really are as a person. Explore what you’re interested in, what you care about, what makes you fulfilled and ensure that these play a large role in your life.

Each day, when you leave the office, school, field, court, etc., are you able to leave it all at the door when you get home?

Finding ways to detach yourself, and not carry the emotion from work with you into the home can be very powerful. It can give yourself freedom to just be you and be fully present with yourself or whoever you are with, because outside of your job, there are so many other important things in your life that you should give your energy and attention to each day.

Who are you going to be when that thing you give so much time to disappears?

You are so much more than your job. So I encourage you to focus on seeking happiness and fulfilment. Embrace your unique set of interests and desires, these are a large part of your identity. And if you’re struggling to find these, if you are lacking purpose or vision for your life outside of your work, let’s talk! I would love to help you onto a journey towards happiness and fulfilment.