Who makes the decisions?

I trust my higher self.

There is a version of me who is connected to something bigger, who has access to more of the puzzle and who makes infinitely better choices.

I don’t trust any other version of me. I’ll listen to what those versions have to say and let them know that they are welcomed to contribute, but they don’t call the shots.

When my higher self makes an important decision or creates a new structure or habit, I will defend that to the end. If I’m feeling exhausted or sad or angry, I won’t allow myself to override what was decided from a higher energy state. If I leave my little boy in charge, every day will be an adventure and a spontaneous, chaotic mess. I’ll take note of what these versions bring it up at the next internal board meeting, but there’s a very clear hierarchy.

It’s higher self above all.

Can I practice even when everything sucks?

It’s easy to commit to a practice when things are going well.

The times I fail is when shit gets messy: being under-resourced, angry, sad, upset, distracted, bored, exhausted.

Practicing, building new habits and making change when it’s hard is the real jam. How do we show up when it’s tough?

I’m writing this morning’s Thought even though my mind is distracted. Even though my ideas are jumbled and not as clear as yesterday. Wake up, write post. That’s my practice. Everything else is just noise until this is done.

The single most important change I’ve made in my relationship to practice is to triple down when things are not great. I have compassion for myself and not wanting to lean in, and I tap into my resiliency knowing that this too is just a passing phase.

Maybe tomorrow it’ll be easy again and my thoughts won’t feel so forced. Maybe not. Regardless, I’ll still be here putting in the work.

What is your current identity?

{I shared this Thought in my Newsletter this week, and it felt like it can be helpful to publish publicly}

"What is your current identity?"

If you read that question and you don’t have an answer, there is an opportunity to turn the unconscious to the conscious.

We all have an identity that has been formed since the day we were born. We don’t often think about it though because it is just who we are.

When you are presented with the opportunity for an adventure, are you the type of person who immediately says yes, immediately says no or wants to hear the details first? That is part of your identity.

What about if you’re presented with a business opportunity, a blind date, ideas that conflict with our worldview, or a massive challenge How we react to those situations is based on our identity.

Our identity forms the core of our essence, our structures, our behaviors, habits and our worldview. If we’re not intentional and conscious of our identity, we are letting life happen to us instead of for us.

P.S. For more on Identity, check out the entire series of the What, Who, How, Why, and When of Identity Transformations.

Why is cultivating a new identity so critical to success?

This week, I wrote about my current identity transformation, my favorite fictional identity transformations, and how I go about finding a new identity.

Let's jump into why I'm spending an entire week writing about identity.

An inspiring, well fitting identity will be a force multiplier, a great reinforcer and make everything easier.

Every single one of us has formed our current identity based on some combination and culmination of events and experiences from our past. Whether we are consciously aware of it or not, our identity has been forming since birth. Our identity has shifted many times and will continue to shift for as long as we're alive.

In college, I had a much different identity than I do today, and if I tried to go back to that identity, my liver would waive the white flag. When I worked on Wall St, I believed I was on the path to becoming CEO of a major corporation. Those identities served me well and no longer fit so well, so I've moved on.

When it's built from an intentional place, identity can be a powerful tool in our tool belt. It can be aspirational and help pull us forward through challenging situations and tough times. It can be a beacon of light that inspires others. It can be a magnet that attracts people and resources to help you.

The magic of finding the perfect identity is that it becomes great reinforcer:

• A well fitting identity reinforces our North Star, and our North Star reinforces our identity.
• A well fitting identity reinforces our habits, and our habits reinforce our identity.
• A well fitting identity reinforces who we are, and who we are reinforces our identity.

And of course it works to our detriment in the opposite direction. Identities that don't serve us can reinforce bad habits and make us feel lost.

When our identity is working with us, life just becomes easier. Easier to achieve the things that are important to us. Easier to get into a flow state. Easier to make decisions. And easier to be in alignment with who we are here to be.

One of the best investments we can make with our time is to cultivate an identity that serves us well. The effects of this will ripple through all areas of our life and will pay itself back over and over again.