Section 3: Your Self-Identity
Your identity has already been reshaped and shifted multiple times.
When you joined the military, your identity took on new characteristics to meet the demands at the time. Every promotion, team change, and duty assignment continued to mold your identity.
Who you were before the military is different than who you are today. Who you are today is different than who you'll become in the future.
Life continually changes. Likewise, your identity continually changes to meet the present demands you're facing.
Rarely do we proactively think about our self-identity. It's easy to get consumed in the daily grind of life. It might take a big life change (changing jobs, financial issues, legal trouble, etc.) for us to step back and reassess our life.
Rather than waiting until it's a necessity, your mission is to start redefining your identity today. It's time to prioritize yourself, your family, and your future by gaining clarity around the person you want to become.
Exercise: Defining Your Self-Identity
To start, block off 30-60 minutes of undisturbed time. No phone, no email, just pen and paper or a blank word document. Use this time to answer the following questions:
Your Past
What type of person was I in the past?
What values were important to me?
What/who were the biggest influences on my past identity?
Did I tie my identity to external influences like a specific job title or military branch?
How do those influences show up in my life today?
Your Present
What are the most important things in my life right now?
Am I living up to my full potential in those areas?
Is there anything in my life that feels forced or inauthentic?
Have the things I value changed over the past year? If so, what has changed?
Your Future
If I were living in 100% authenticity, what would that look like?
What in my life needs to change to live in 100% authenticity?
What do I need to change within myself to make my goals for the future possible?
What aspects of my past and present identity do I want to keep? Which ones do I need to remove?
Once you’re done, go back and reread your answers. What stands out? What do you need to focus on in coming months to become the ideal version of your future self?
Remember that your self-identity continues to shift throughout life. Who you are today is different than who you’ll be in 5, 10 or 20 years.
Consider revisiting the questions about your past, present, and future self at the start of every year. Not only will this provide perspective of how you’ve grown, it will also prioritize personal growth and your vision of the future.