Who you are determines what you do.
Your identity is how God sees you and, ultimately, how you see you. Notice there is nothing in that sentence that suggests your identity has anything to do with how others see you. The very issues of your life flow out of your heart, not out of the circumstances or situations of life, nor the words of how others define you.
Your identity is the arrow pointing you down your path in life and toward your goals. In other words, your goals and the things you do in your life should flow out of your heart and flow from your very identity. Your goals and your path in life should line up with your identity. Life is about who you are, not what you do, though we often identify people with what they do or where they are in life.
The problem is not going down the wrong road. It is becoming content and satisfied with the wrong road, rather than turning around and finding the right way.
If you are a Christian, you find your identity rooted in Christ. Thus, you are a new creation, according to 2 Corinthians 5:17, because you have been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20) and created in his likeness (Ephesians 4:24). Don’t confuse that with Genesis 1:27. Man was created in his image, but you were created in his likeness after becoming a Christian. There is a difference because after taking on his likeness, you have different goals, a different agenda and a different path. But that’s another story too.
Do your goals line up with your identity? If not, you may be wasting your time and spitting in the wind. It’s the reason many become frustrated or dishearted in a dead-end job. It’s the reason many live a defeated life. And, it’s also a contributing factor in money woes, divorce and certainly hindered dreams.
Look at where you are in life. Consider your job, your relationships, your station in life, your church. Even your politics, religion and the games you play. Do these things line up with who you are? Do you know who you are? No, this isn’t a deep dive into finding yourself. But it could be revelational or even cause you to revisit your convictions and beliefs.
So who are you?
- What makes you come alive?
- What comes easy to you? What comes naturally?
- What feels like fun to you, but it’s work for others?
- What is the low-hanging fruit for you?
Once you have the answers to those questions, ask yourself these questions:
- What would change in your life if you put your time, effort and resources into nurturing those areas?
- Does what I’m currently doing in life line up with that?
- What areas do I need to focus on more now?
- What things should I decrease or eliminate entirely in my life because they aren’t necessarily my passion or heart?
- What have I always wanted to try but been a little apprehensive or fearful to implement?
- Do these line up with who you are?
Now, don’t take this as a mandate or even permission to change jobs, change directions in life or even consider divorce. But do receive this as an opportunity to review your goals in life.
Remember: It’s about who you are, not what you do. Who you are should determine what you do in every step and facet of your life. Are your goals aligned with your identity? What are you going to do about it?