I used to think who I am and what I do are the same.
I made this mistake...about three decades ago. Enrolled in an amazing teacher preparation program, my classmates and I aspired to change the world, to become teachers. Each class, course, and semester reinforced this value. The experience was marked by a sense of belonging, membership to a group. Becoming a teacher was a to be dream come true.
Years later, I've come to realize, teaching, leading, and learning isn't who I am. It's what I do.
Want to your purpose and your identity? Create space between what you do and who you are.
Not separating purpose and identity leads to fatigue. Mediocrity. Resentment. Burnout.
This should be neither what you do or who you are. You know these people. They appear to be half awake (asleep). They shuffle their feet when they walk (if they walk). And they engage only in trivial dialogue, that's lacking meaning or detail. They see only problems, not possibilities.
Separate what you do and who you are and watch what happens. Your identity will fuel your purpose. Your purpose will fuel your identity. And your life will take off, in all good ways.
While this is by no means quick or easy to achieve, anyone can do this, with a commitment.
#1. Work in the workplace.
This is your opportunity to thrive in the area of "what you do".
Schedule your priorities and commitments on a calendar. Use every opportunity when you speak to any sized audience to express values that we hold true. And do both of these things, in service to the cause you hold near and dear to your heart. In the workplace, this is as close as "who you are" should get to "what you do".
#2. Explore outside interests.
Having hobbies, interests, and passions outside of the workplace will both add value to your life and will make you a more interesting human being, both in and out of work.
Incorporate movement, mindfulness, stillness, and flow into your personal habits. Get outside in the fresh air and into the sunlight. Read, words on paper, on pages that can be turned. Read a balance of genres, but create space for fiction, which has vast benefits. (I'm working on this one.)
#3. Establish "white space", at both work and home.
The scientific research on the benefits of white space is growing. While exploring ways of doing this at home may be easier, it's equally as important, to do this in the workplace. Want to feel a surge or creativity or productivity? Scheduling white space int your calendar, even just for a few minutes, will help. Not sure where to start? Try box breathing.
Don't get me wrong, I am a work in progress. Often, I experience imbalance between who I am and what I do; between my identity and my purpose. The outcome to focusing on this daily, to maximize time in both the workplace and the home, is leading to a more fulfilling life. I used to think leadership was a lifestyle. Now I know this can be the case at work, and being home, can be different. Each version of me make me better in each place, for others.
This post was inspired by dialogue in this week's Learning Leader Show Podcast with Ryan Hawk, episode 438, featuring Jay Williams.
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