We have all heard that real change comes from within. This is why understanding how to identity shift can add numerous long term benefits to your life.
What would you say if I offered you a cigarette? Would you happily take it or would you say ‘No thank you, I’m not a smoker’? What if I asked you if you wanted to go on a 30 mile backpacking trip this weekend? Would you agree to come, or would you say ‘No thanks, I don’t backpack’?
Whatever answer you give is fine, (except probably the smoking one… don’t do that, it’s bad) and you might notice that it was easy to say yes or no to either of those questions. This is because the answer falls in line with your perception of your identity.
It’s easy to make decisions that fall in line with your identity. The smoking question is a great example because usually people fall into one or the other category, either you smoke or you don’t. This makes making the decision to say yes or no to the cigarette easy.
Knowing this, you can use it to your advantage and start reframing your mindset about who you are as a person. Once you begin identity shifting to align with who you want to be, it will be much easier making day to day decisions.
This post is all about identity shift.
What Is Identity Shifting?
All of us have an identity. Whether you are a mom, a student, a software developer, a business owner, a smoker, or a swimmer, the list goes on. All of these characteristics work together to create your identity and how everyone, including yourself, views you.
Having an identity is super important, and the stronger we align with our specific identities, the stronger we feel about them.
For example, someone whose identity is a good student will want to keep up their grades. Someone whose identity is a runner will go on daily runs. Someone whose identity is a smoker will smoke.
So how can knowing your identity help you achieve your goals?
By knowing your identity versus who you want to be you can start to reframe your mindset. If your identity doesn’t align with your goals, it will be nearly impossible to reach them. Motivation doesn’t last forever, but by shifting your actions to align with who you want to be you will make longterm progress.
How Does Identity Shifting Work?
It all comes down to what you believe about yourself. Your thoughts shape your actions, your actions shape your habits, and habits make up your life. It’s that simple.
This is why it is so important that you align your self-perception with your goals.
Let’s say for example you want to start a healthier lifestyle. It’s easy to come up with a plan, buy the ingredients, and spend hours on Pinterest pinning easy 1 pot dinner recipes.
But if your self image isn’t aligned with that of a healthy person, as soon as the motivation fades, you will go right back to microwave meals and takeout.
This is why it’s so important to do the inner work on yourself. You need to shift your identity so that it closes the gap between your choices today and those of a healthy person. That way, when the motivation fades, you will keep eating clean and moving your body consistently. Because that’s just what healthy people do.
You can apply this example to anything. Growing a business, running a marathon, quitting smoking, literally anything! If your personal identity doesn’t align with who you want to be, you are running solely on motivation, which as we all know is quite the fickle lady.
Simple Identity Shifting Method's
So how exactly do you shift your identity so you can close the gap between who are are and who you want to become? You will need to put in some work on yourself. Here are 5 methods you can use to slowly but surely start shifting your internal beliefs about yourself!
Identity Shift Method 1
Start noticing the way you talk about yourself.
Well before we can even remember we start to make assumptions about ourselves. They start out innocent enough, but usually by the time were teenagers they can become quite harsh. You fail a test, you call yourself dumb (even if it’s as a joke). You look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, you call yourself ugly. Your significant other breaks up with you, and all of a sudden you’re telling yourself that you don’t deserve to be loved.
We are our worst critics. And most of the time we speak to ourselves in a way we would never even think about speaking to someone else. But that’s not right is it?
There is no one on this planet that you will spend as much time with as you. So why would you treat yourself so poorly? If you wouldn’t let someone else speak about you like this, why should you let yourself speak about you that way?
Your actions come from your thoughts. This is why it is SO important to be kind to yourself. Start reframing your mindset to be supportive and encouraging of yourself. Tell yourself you love and are proud of you. Talk to yourself the way you want someone you love to speak to you.
Trust me, you will soon notice a difference. This is the first step to building trust with yourself and will ultimately help you acknowledge your strengths, which will help you to feel more confident in your abilities.
Identity Shift Method 2
Figure out your most important core values.
Think of your core values as the compass in your life. Anytime you feel lost, discouraged, or unmotivated you can look at your core values as your metaphorical north star.
Start with what are ultimately the most important things to you. Do you value being creative? Or helping others, growth, personal and financial security, comfort, fitness, achievement, happiness, gratitude… the list goes on!
Now, list your core values and rank them in order of most to least important to you currently. Be honest with yourself, if you value comfort over achievement or financial security over helping others, that is okay! The point is to be 100% honest.
Now think of the person you want to become and rearrange your values to fit that narrative. Do you want to be fit and healthy? Well, then fitness will have to come before comfort. Do you want to start saving money? Well, then financial security will have to come before traveling with friends. This isn’t to say you still can’t be comfortable or travel, they would just come as an afterthought to your top values.
Seeing where you prioritize things now, versus how you want to prioritize the things in your life will help you close the gap between who you are now and who you want to become. It’s a great way to start shifting your identity to align with your top priorities.
Identity Shift Method 3
Did you know that you become an average of the 5 people you hang out with the most?
Who you spend time with matters. What this means is that you need to take a close look into your inner circle and determine if they align with your long term goals and the person you want to be.
You can also take a look at the type of accounts you follow on social media, the podcasts you listen to, and what you watch. All of these play a factor in influencing the kind of person you are.
Applying this method doesn’t mean you need to cut out everyone and everything you love from your life. But maybe it’s worth it to network and add people in that directly align with your dram life.
Identity Shift Method 4
Shifting your identity to align with the person you want to become is not easy. This is why it’s important that you do things daily that will cast a vote for your new identity.
Shifting your identity isn’t as easy as just wanting to be healthier, or start a business or work on your career goals. It’s about changing your whole self. This is pretty difficult to do, so it’s super important that you take the time to do things that align with what you want your new identity to be.
Just ask yourself what would someone successful in what you are trying to accomplish do? If your goal is to run a marathon, then you have to put in the same work every day as someone who runs marathons.
That being said, it’s important to start slow. Most people fail because they go into big changes way too fast. Our brains don’t like that, they want the easy path most of the time. So go slow, make small but daily changes, and gradually build them up as you go. The fastest path to success is starting slow.
Identity Shift Method 5
Inevitably you will have setbacks and self doubt. But this is the difference between just setting goals, and changing your identity to align with who you want to be.
If you had just set goals, it’s way too easy to stop following through with them. But the more they become part of your identity, and the more you start to align yourself with the kind of person who achieves the goal you set for yourself, it will come natural to you.
To help you on the day’s you feel lacking in motivation, or have a set back, try journaling.
Journaling is a way to keep yourself accountable. Journaling can help you figure out why you want to shift your identity or why you might be having struggles. It’s like a mini therapy sesh and helps so much with your accountability!
