What's True About You?

Recently, I was speaking to a group of teenagers and asked, "What is true about you?"

They paused to think and then shared things they liked or disliked, and things they felt they were good or not good at, as if these were facts about themselves.

For example, Charlotte said, "I'm not good at sports," and Lucy identified as a procrastinator. Even though these things feel true to them, they're actually just thoughts based on their past behavior patterns.

I challenged them—and all of us—to consider: You have the power to decide what is true about you in every moment.

Relying on past patterns to define our identity isn't just a tendency among teenagers; it's a common mistake we all make.

But think about it: if our past selves' capabilities determined our potential, we'd still be in diapers and unable to read.

Instead, we can look to our FUTURE to decide what's true about us. We can define our identity based on our desires and intentions for the future.

For example, "I am Julia, and I aspire to be an influential public speaker." While I'm not there yet, it's a possibility I embrace and know will be true someday.

Because I believe this about my future self, I actively seek speaking opportunities, write speeches, and envision inspiring others. This is the power of believing in a future identity.

Be very intentional with "I am..." statements, as they are powerful and shape our subconscious mind. Misaligned beliefs can lead to self-sabotage because we CANNOT act in opposition to our core beliefs about ourselves for very long.

For instance, if Lucy identifies as a procrastinator, she might will herself to start a school project early a couple of times. But ultimately, she will return to her previous habits of doing assignments last minute if she fails to change that identity.

So, what is true about you?

Don't look to your past for answers. Let your future self, with its ambitious goals and dreams, answer that question. This exercise is powerful!

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Go make it count.