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Positive Impact_Circumstances vs Identity
Quote: "Never allow your identity to be lost in your circumstances." (Pam Caylor)
Question: Whether your circumstances are wonderful, challenging, or - wonderfully challenging - never allow them to define you. What do we want to define us? Hmmm, that's the great question, isn't it? For me, I can tell you, I want to be defined - at least in part - by this: I want to make a lasting difference in people's lives; to empower, inspire and acknowledge others by finding, believing and developing the best in them. When what I am doing lines up with that (my) personal mission statement, I am inspired!
If I looked at my circumstances and then said, "Ah, now I know who I am," then, who might I be tomorrow? How about next week? Or even five years from now? Because circumstances change - they do! Circumstances can be a reflection of who I am, not the other way around!
It can definitely be challenging not to let our circumstances define us. I can say so from experience! If I had not made some different decisions and choices about who I was, and instead, simply believed that my circumstances equaled my identity, I would be a mess! Because for a long time, years ago, my life was a mess! Every part of my life was broken and sad. Remember, as soon as we change who we are "being," we change what belongs in our life - thus, our circumstances change, too.
Our lives all involve relationships. No relationship can be healthier than the least healthy person in that relationship. To have better and healthier relationships, "be" healthier, happier and more content with you. None of us have "arrived" yet. (Don't mean to burst anyone's bubble, there!) But we can be happy with the direction we are headed, even if we just now made the decision to change the things we know we need to change.
When I changed "who I was being," I changed what - and who - belonged in my life. It was a process. My, what a difference a day makes. And then another day, and then another. Our lives are truly made up of moment to moment decisions. The really amazing thing is we can change the next decision - and the next - and the next. Pretty soon, our life looks totally different! Guess what - that means our circumstances look different, too!
And when all our life circumstances are wonderful, we still need to pay attention to who we are! We must still continue to look for better and better opportunities! Look for more ways to positively impact the lives of those around us. Look for more ways to love the people in our life! Look for better ways to spend our time. Look for more opportunities to leave a lasting legacy ....
Pam Caylor
"Freedom is ... the right to choose the habits that bind you!" (Renate Rubenstein)
Question: Whether your circumstances are wonderful, challenging, or - wonderfully challenging - never allow them to define you. What do we want to define us? Hmmm, that's the great question, isn't it? For me, I can tell you, I want to be defined - at least in part - by this: I want to make a lasting difference in people's lives; to empower, inspire and acknowledge others by finding, believing and developing the best in them. When what I am doing lines up with that (my) personal mission statement, I am inspired!
If I looked at my circumstances and then said, "Ah, now I know who I am," then, who might I be tomorrow? How about next week? Or even five years from now? Because circumstances change - they do! Circumstances can be a reflection of who I am, not the other way around!
It can definitely be challenging not to let our circumstances define us. I can say so from experience! If I had not made some different decisions and choices about who I was, and instead, simply believed that my circumstances equaled my identity, I would be a mess! Because for a long time, years ago, my life was a mess! Every part of my life was broken and sad. Remember, as soon as we change who we are "being," we change what belongs in our life - thus, our circumstances change, too.
Our lives all involve relationships. No relationship can be healthier than the least healthy person in that relationship. To have better and healthier relationships, "be" healthier, happier and more content with you. None of us have "arrived" yet. (Don't mean to burst anyone's bubble, there!) But we can be happy with the direction we are headed, even if we just now made the decision to change the things we know we need to change.
When I changed "who I was being," I changed what - and who - belonged in my life. It was a process. My, what a difference a day makes. And then another day, and then another. Our lives are truly made up of moment to moment decisions. The really amazing thing is we can change the next decision - and the next - and the next. Pretty soon, our life looks totally different! Guess what - that means our circumstances look different, too!
And when all our life circumstances are wonderful, we still need to pay attention to who we are! We must still continue to look for better and better opportunities! Look for more ways to positively impact the lives of those around us. Look for more ways to love the people in our life! Look for better ways to spend our time. Look for more opportunities to leave a lasting legacy ....
Pam Caylor
"Freedom is ... the right to choose the habits that bind you!" (Renate Rubenstein)
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