Defining yourself is a difficult process, whether you are writing a journal article, answering a question during an interview, or trying to be happier and more satisfied with your life. However, before you can define who you are for someone else, you must first define yourself. A person's attitude will differ depending on their philosophy, but you could examine some basic parts of your being to define who you are. For example, to determine who you are, you could define what your skills, passions, personality, and values are.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Decode Your Personality and Core Values
Step 1. Take the personality tests available online
While not all personality tests are formulated the same, some may provide more information about who you are. For example, a common test is the Myers-Briggs, which divides personality between two options and four categories. Also, you could take the Big Five Personality Categories test.
- Use the results. Once you get the results, they will help you better understand who you are as a person and how you make decisions. They will also help you understand how you interact with other people and why you tend to respond in a certain way to specific situations.
- For example, knowing that you are an introvert will help you understand why you feel exhausted after the holidays and how you can take steps to manage your energy.
Step 2. Take into account what are your most important achievements
Write down the three things that you consider your greatest achievements. What do these moments have in common? Similarly, keep in mind what you consider to be your biggest failures. What do they have in common?
Step 3. Identify what you have learned
That is, taking into account both your achievements and your failures, evaluate what you did to obtain that result or if you would like to do things differently now. If one of your biggest accomplishments was graduating, it means that hard work and dedication are important to you. If one of your biggest failures was getting drunk and cheating on your partner, it means that you want to do things differently, since your problems have been the excesses and the breach of your promises.
Step 4. Observe the people you admire
Take a look at the people you admire the most. What do you admire about them? Which of its qualities would you like to have? What values do they have? Those are probably the values that you would also like to have.
Step 5. Ask yourself what is most important to you
In order for you to discover what your values are, you must consider what is the most important thing in your life; maybe it's your family or maybe it's your friends.
Asking yourself a few questions is one way to find out what is valued. For example, if your house caught fire, what things would you save (besides your family and your pets)? If you could, what would you do to change the world? What are you passionate about? The recurring patterns you find will help you define your values
Step 6. In your statement of values, incorporate what you have learned
For example, you may have realized that hard work is important to you, which means that it is one of your values. You will also have noticed that moderation and fidelity are important to you and part of your values.
Step 7. Use your values to guide your decisions
It's easy to have empty values; However, what defines you as a person is how you put those values into practice. It is said that people are of integrity when they are governed by their values; Therefore, if you want to be a person of integrity, you must maintain your beliefs.
Step 8. Let your values define you
Your personality and your values will define your actions. For example, this means that if you value your family over anything else, you will prefer it over work or other obligations. However, if your job is what you value, you may choose not to have a family, which is also a valid choice. What you do defines who you are.
Once you discover how your values have defined you as a person, you can translate it into words. For example, if you value your family above anything else, you might consider yourself a "family person"; on the other hand, if what you value the most is your work, you could say: "I am passionate about my work"
Method 2 of 3: Discover Your Passions
Step 1. Think about what you loved as a child
For example, if you loved to color, maybe you have a latent passion for design. If yours were building toys, such as bricks or blocks, perhaps your passion has more to do with architecture or construction.
Don't just think about what you loved to do. Also consider why you loved doing it. For example, you might find that you loved building blocks because you liked the rows and neat colors, which means that what you really loved was the organization
Step 2. Consider what you would do if money was not an issue
That is, if you suddenly inherited enough money to not have to worry about rent or food, how would you spend your time? Think of more than just sitting on the couch and watching TV. Would you dedicate yourself to a hobby? Would you be a volunteer? Would you visit the library or the museum? What you choose to do will tell you what you are most passionate about.
Step 3. Pay attention when you become engrossed
Do you know those moments when you lose track of time because you are completely devoted to what you do? Those moments, when you obviously love what you do, are the ones that you should pay attention to.
Step 4. Consider what you don't like
Learning what you don't like is just as important as learning what you love. This is for one reason only: it can tell you what to avoid when pursuing your passions and when looking for a job.
Start with the activities that you fear. What is it that scares you about them? Why are you afraid of them? Once you answer these questions, you will start to notice some patterns between activities, such as that you may not like organizing or that you may not be a really social person
Step 5. Create a space for the things that inspire you
Whether you use a journal, a poster, or a board, create a space to put the things that inspire you. Try to put quotes, images and ideas. Once you start filling in the board, you will begin to notice the patterns that identify some of your passions.
Use everything you can get your hands on for your dashboard, from the Internet and junk mail to old magazines
Step 6. Make curiosity a part of your day
When you're curious about something, take the time to do some research. You may find that you are passionate about a topic just by pursuing an idea. Use the Internet or the library to start satisfying your curiosity.
Step 7. Answer "yes"
When life invites you to do something new, do it for a while. For example, when you have the opportunity to try something new at work, accept it. When a friend invites you to experience something new, join them. You never know what you will like in the end.
Step 8. Explore your options
One way to explore is by trying different things. Go to the library and read books on the topics that interest you. Try joining different community clubs or taking classes through the parks and recreation department. However, you don't even have to leave the house to explore different passions. One afternoon, try scribbling or playing in your garden. Allow yourself to open up to the possibilities.
Step 9. Allow yourself to express yourself through your passions
Your passions will be in what allows you to show the world who you are. They also define who you are as a person, because what you are passionate about is what runs your life. Therefore, it is very important to have passions. If you are passionate about art, you can express yourself through it, whether you are the artist, or you support the artists.
Method 3 of 3: Discover Your Skills
Step 1. Think about the areas that you have performed well
What have you done well in the past? For example, think about the classes in which you got good grades. Also, think about those things that you do naturally for your friends and your family, and that they ask you to do because you are good at it. Write down what you do well.
Your skills are part of your identity, as many people will identify you for what you do
Step 2. Consider the skills you have developed in your jobs
Certain types of jobs teach you some skills, whether or not you are aware that you are learning them. For example, if you work a counter at a fast food restaurant, you will learn to deal with drama quickly and efficiently.
- Fast food and retail jobs can also teach you interpersonal skills.
- Similarly, people will also associate what you do for a living with who you are. You spend a good part of your life at work, so it becomes a part of who you are.
Step 3. Take some skills tests that are available online
Many websites, especially job search and freelance websites, offer the opportunity to take skills tests. These tests will help you assess how expert you are in certain areas, usually those related to the job market.
Step 4. Ask your friends, family and colleagues
Your peers will be able to evaluate your competence in certain areas, and the more you expose yourself to the world, the more opinions you will be able to ask about your abilities. Your bosses will also be able to tell you how well you perform in certain areas. You could also ask your friends and family if they think you are particularly competent at something.
Step 5. Define yourself by your skills
As you become an adult, your skills will define you professionally. When you are looking for a job, you are basically a list of skills and experience. That is your image to the world. That may not be all you are, but it makes up part of it.