Society asks what you do before it asks who you are. I used to think they were the same thing.
Last year, this devastating thought sent me spiralling into depths I struggled to escape.
So much of who I am was wrapped up in what I did. Further to this (already) problematic equation was that my worth was defined solely by how well I did in my job. Every success and failure became a verdict on my value as a person.
This is the most toxic environment you can create for yourself because it’s a cycle that continuously loops automatically.
I couldn’t see back then what I understand now…but sometimes I wish I could return to that past self and hold her.
Hitting what felt like rock bottom was the catalyst for me to understand that all I understood about myself was trapped in an ideology that I no longer subscribe to.
Who I am is determined by me. It’s shaped by my experiences and my ability to learn from them. It’s moulded to my dreams and desires and is ever-changing.
Exploring this new identity has been so incredibly freeing.
