The “Identity” That Keeps You Stuck
This episode focuses very heavily on the concept of “identity.”
Many times, when people are stuck in a lifestyle that doesn’t serve them any longer, the thing they view as their “identity” is the very thing that’s keeping them stuck.
I dealt heavily with this when I was giving up smoking. (Which I spoke at length about in my episode “The Smoker’s Identity.”)
This can also apply to someone who is trying to drop excess weight. Many times, when people drop excess weight, they begin experiencing a change in behavior from others, which fucks with what they know to be their “identity.” It can be uncomfortable.
Human beings like to avoid anything that threatens who they know themselves to be.
When we think about “identity,” we’re really just thinking about our story that we tell ourselves about our lives. Many people do not want to give up their story, because they feel giving it up will invalidate their very real experiences. Thus, many people live their whole lives in victim consciousness, unable to expand.
Changing what you perceive to be as your “identity” does not take away any validity from any part of your life. It simply allows you to have a better, freer future.
