Who Are We, Really? Exploring Identity Beyond Work Life
“So, tell me about yourself,” a person I had started a conversation with at a dinner party asked. I told her what I did for a living; she said, "well, that's nice, but who are you outside of work?" Her question caught me off guard; I was so used to people wanting to know what I did for a living that I was on autopilot. I paused for a second and thought, “That's a great question.”
Many of us define ourselves by our job title and what we do for a living. That's understandable; most adults are employed in the labor force, and our jobs consume the bulk of our time. But if someone were to remove your job title from you tomorrow, would you also lose your sense of identity? How do you define yourself? What are the other aspects of your life that make you who you are? Let's explore this idea further.
How Much Do We Identify With Our Career Paths?
When asked to describe ourselves, many of us go straight to listing off our job titles and bragging about our accomplishments at work. But why do we need to identify so heavily with our career paths? It could be because it sets us apart; it's something tangible we can point to when people ask about us. It's also a way of measuring success—we might think that if we have an impressive job title or a high income, we must be successful. But what is success? The meaning can be different for everyone. For some it can mean achieving a certain goal you’ve set for yourself, or maybe it’s doing something that allows you to give back to your community. Success to me is accomplishing my goals and doing things that bring me joy.
Work-related measurements don't account for everything that makes us unique. What about your hobbies, interests, and values — what makes you who you are? What makes you truly unique?? It's important to remember that while having a great job can make you feel proud and fulfilled, it doesn't define the totality of who you are. There is so much more to you than what you do for a living.
Taking Time To Reflect On Other Aspects Of Self-Identity
It can be easy to get caught up in the everyday hustle and bustle without taking time to reflect on who you are outside of your job or career path. Taking the time to focus on yourself outside of your career path is essential for maintaining a healthy self-identity. Think about your hobbies and passions; what makes you unique; what brings joy into your life; how would your friends describe you; these questions will help bring the focus back to non-work related aspects of yourself that can help foster healthier self-esteem. Take some time each day (even if it's just 10 minutes) to focus on activities that bring joy into your life – whether reading a book, taking an online class, or cooking something delicious for dinner – anything goes!
Taking time out to explore other aspects of self-identity can help build healthier self-esteem and promote personal growth outside of your work life. So the next time someone asks you, "so tell me about yourself," take a moment before answering with just your job title—you have so many more interesting stories to share!
