Over the course of the years, I found lots of things I love that I never think I would. I really enjoy them now. Photography and woodworking are among the many of those things I found myself surprised to be in love with. They were never part of my plans in the past, but are now present in my life constantly and definitely part of my future.
It is interesting to think about the impact the things we enjoy have in our perspectives, priorities, character and I dare to say our own identity. That is why we so easily voice out what we do when actually people ask us who we are. There is some sort of bond. Think about that for a second. How would you define yourself? Who are you?
For a long time of my life, I had that answer handy: I am a preacher.
I started doing that when I was 17 and kept doing it uninterruptedly until I was 32. Today, I am 35 and I am not a preacher (at least not in the concept I had before). Not because I would not want to, but due to a lot of major changes that happened in my life in recent years. At the same I had been a preacher, I had also been working with all kinds of construction-related stuff and had started my own business and that actually led us into moving to the USA.
In a nutshell, my family and I moved to Texas for work purposes and literally our lives changed completely. Routine, friendships, weekends, language, culture, food, all different. And, I was no longer actively preaching as I used to back in Brazil. Things then got weird inside of me.
I freaked out.
Not that I went crazy and rogue. I actually was much quieter than before, since life was at a much slower pace. The problem was really inside of me. In what took me some time to realize, I had lost my identity, almost like I was ceasing to be. After many years of myself teaching, writing and preaching about identity I can tell that I did not see that one coming. I just remember a sense of void, a lack of purpose.
With time passing by, I then realized how dangerous that can be, no matter what your career is. At the end of the day, you and I are not what we do and if we think so, life will just be miserable whenever there is an unexpected change.
Maybe you are trying hard to find out who you are and thinking that once you get to know your inner calling, then you will really know that. Having that mindset can be very dangerous and even harmful.
The thing is that we forget that we change over time and we are very selective about the things we pick. We take some and toss out a few others. Think about you 5 years ago. I like that time-frame because it seems life is a little bit cyclical in that sense. Think of how your experiences have shaped you and influenced your worldview, for good or bad.
Over that time you may have started doing different things, learned new stuff, and even changed what you do for a living. Does that determine now who you are? I hope not.
Some folks once finding out their what will then start thinking of the how. Again, that is important and part of the cognitive process that everyone should go through, but still does not determine who you are. I am all for us all growing in knowledge, techniques an all kinds of new capacities, mastering our what and how.
Your what and how will change accordingly to the circumstances. You must adapt. You have probably watched an interview where Bruce Lee talks a little bit about it. Water even though changes its shape and adapts is still the same water. And you?
Who are you?
Bruce Lee Be As Water Philosophy video. http://www.aqualogixfitness.com
