We live in times when you can have, do or become anything you want … yet many people still feel unaccomplished and trapped in their everyday routine.They work hard during the entire week in order to be able to have some weekend fun, and when the party is over, they return to the boring and often frustrating routine.

The main reason behind this phenomenon is that we human beings tend to identify ourselves with what we do. Let me clarify. The work you’re currently doing in your life is only the role you are playing at the moment, not your identity. In fact, your current job or family role can be in absolute disharmony with who you really are, with your hopes, dreams, and aspirations.

Also, if you define yourself according to your current role, what will happen when that role changes or if you lose your job? When your role suddenly changes, you might experience an identity crisis. Statistically, people go through many changes in business and often personal lives when they reach their late 30s or early 40s. Have you heard about midlife crisis? That’s exactly what I am talking about.

The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way for you! In order to discover who you really are and to reveal your true purpose in life, you need to sit down with yourself for an honest  chat … early on in your life. The first thing you need to do is exclude yourself from all disturbances. Then, ask yourself assessment questions to get a better insight into who you really are. Another thing you can do when you’re unsure what your purpose is on this planet is to try new activities to see what makes you truly happy and fulfilled.

The questions you can ask to find your true self include:

• What do I absolutely love?

• What have I accomplished in life?

• What would my purpose be if no one judged me?

• If there were no limitations, what would my ideal self look like?

• What would I do if I had all the money in the world?

• Who do I admire the most?

Answering these questions truthfully will give you the most valuable insight into who you really are.

Forget about all the limitations and obstacles for a while and imagine your ideal self. What would you do, where would you live, what would you strive for? Answering the first two questions will help you realize what you value the most. These are your core values or the things that are most important to you. The other questions will help you define your ideal self and your goals in life. Be as specific as you can in your answers and you will be on the path to finding your true self. Answering the last question can give you the most valuable insight.

The person you admire the most is probably the person who shares the same values as you but has chosen to live without limitations, to take chances and stay true to his/her inner self. My goal as a coach is to support you to look inside and explore who really lies within.

Right now, I am also planning the first “Find Your Authentic Self” retreat that will take place in the second half of 2016. We will most likely go to Bali or Bhutan. Oh, did I mention that the group is shaping up to be incredibly powerful and inspirational? Contact me for more information.

Be your best self,

Yana

P.S. Do check out my "People Power" website as I share 8 tips you can use to network and connect with high-power people.

_{This post was first published on Yana Fry blog and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author.
Edited by Nedda Chaplin
Image credit: woman sitting on sofa with cup of tea from Shutterstock}

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