Identity

ihavesomething2say
Feb 10, 2021
3 min read

Who are you?

Growing up, strong personalities have always surrounded me. The secondary school I attended gave me no option but to be myself. Not being yourself was almost a crime. You could get called out for it. I went to an all-girls school (save your bias! I don’t want to hear it). Being around females with strong personalities taught me many things about myself and sisterhood.

1. Your identity is your own to cultivate.

Don’t bother being like someone else. The truth is, it doesn’t work and you will not be able to “do” it better. Being someone else requires a lot of energy and work. You have to continuously remind yourself to wear that suit, speak that way, adopt those ideas and notions. Doesn’t that exhaust you?

When you cultivate someone else’s identity you are almost saying that you are not good enough, you’re not cool enough or that you will never be accepted.

There have been plenty of times where I have wanted to be accepted by a group or be deemed a particular way. However, because I had 5 years where I had no choice but to be myself, the inner works of my beings never allowed me to act on such thoughts.

2. You are enough.

Accepting who you are is an important part of your identity. By validating yourself nobody else can invalidate you. So if you are a weirdo, come out of the closet and be a proud weirdo.

When you realise that you are enough, you don’t pretend to be something that you’re not.

When you realise that you are enough, you are essentially forcing society to accept you as you are.

When you realise that you are enough, any issue about your identity sounds like a “you problem”.

3. I have a friend in me.

Having an identity makes me feel alive. I believe I am truly living. What’s more, I can enjoy myself and my own company.

When you have your own identity there is an element of self-love that comes with it. I don’t avoid myself. I don’t avoid my inner voices and don’t dismiss my emotions and thoughts.

My identity is my own. There is a sense of comfort in knowing that nobody else is like me.

So why not enjoy something exclusive?

4. I know who I am.

Your identity is a perfect reminder for when things go left. I remember being in a long-term on and off relationship, which made me question who I was. I am thankful for those long 5 school years, as I now have a reference point for whenever I am put in situations that draw me away from myself. Developing your core will remind you of who the f*ck you are whenever someone comes to challenge that.

Knowing who you are is extremely important because life my friends will test you. People will challenge you and situations may break you.

Having a source will always put you back on track and save you for whenever you begin to derail.

5. Born an original, don’t die a copy.

According to google identity is the qualities, beliefs, personalities, looks and or expressions that make a person or a group.

One can regard the awareness and the categorising of identity as positive or as destructive. A psychological identity relates to self-image, self-esteem and individuality. So I ask, who are you?

C O N S I D E R . . .

Mind - Affirm that you are enough.

Body - Remind yourself of all the things that make you, you. Go out and do them! Enjoy your own company!

Soul - Be aware of how you speak to yourself. Never stop loving yourself, encourage yourself, treat yourself with kindness.