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.