Identify who you are, your core values and beliefs
Identity. Identity is such a powerful word that carries so much meaning and value. We all have an identity, and just as we are all unique, so are our identities. Identity is defined as “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is”. That definition is sufficient, but try to take a deeper look. For example, your identity in one sense could be your age, your job, and where you live. That’s who you are, but there’s so much more to it. Identity is the total sum of your experiences, your passions, your struggles, your victories, your values, and even your regrets. As cliché as it might sound, every moment and every decision has led to where we are and who we are right now. And everyone’s path is different.
Prompt: Take a couple of minutes and just reflect. How would you describe your identity? How did you get to where you are today? What experiences do you hold true to your heart? What values do you have? What are you truly passionate about?
Essential Steps
Because we all have value, and every one of us has the ability to change the world. No matter where you are from, what your gender is, what your age is, or even your race, we all have the power to make a difference. Your identity provides you a unique position. No one else in this world has or will ever experience exactly what you’ve experienced. No one else in this world has your personality or your exact passions. That makes you an expert on yourself. Take a moment to truly understand and embrace that.
It might not be obvious or apparent right now, but your unique set of experiences will make a difference someday. It could be as simple as helping a younger sibling or even a classmate with schoolwork. For instance, you may have struggled with math, but you overcame that challenge. You believed in yourself and you proved to yourself that you could do it. Now you can pass on your knowledge and experience to help someone else. Now take it up a level; you may realize that there is a problem in your school. There is a poor teacher-to-student ratio and many students are falling behind. Now after your experience with helping your sibling with his or her schoolwork, you may decide to create a tutoring program within your school district: high school students will volunteer to tutor younger students in exchange for volunteer service hours that will fulfill graduation requirements. It is a cycle; one experience inspired another which inspired another. Life is full of these opportunities. You just have to be willing to go after them.
Prompt: Think again about the experiences that you listed/thought about in the previous section. Now think about what you could do with those experiences. It could be struggles that you had or even victories. Are there any takeaways or things that you learned that you can pass on? Please think hard because we all have value to give to this world.
Takeaway
Be proud of your identity. Be proud of where you came from. Be proud of your quirks. Be proud of your passions. Be proud of your struggles. And never let anyone, including yourself, tell you that you are not special and that you cannot do something.
We are all unique, and that is what gives us the power to change the world.
Prompt: Take action. Go put your stamp on the world. Help others when you see the opportunity. Take risks, and believe in yourself.