Episode 138 - What Defines You?
Understanding Your True Identity Beyond Life's Seasons
In today's fast-paced world, many women find themselves questioning their identity, especially during life's middle seasons. Whether you're navigating an empty nest, caring for aging parents, or reinventing your career, understanding who you truly are becomes more crucial than ever. This post explores the powerful distinction between what explains your life and what defines it.
The Power of True Identity
Recently, I came across a profound truth that resonated deeply with me: there's a significant difference between what explains your life and what defines it. Your empty nest might explain your current season, but it doesn't define you. Your divorce might explain part of your story, but it doesn't define you. Your successes or struggles might explain your journey, but they don't define you.
Consider John, one of Jesus's closest friends. In his gospel, he doesn't introduce himself as a leader, writer, or even as someone who gave up everything to follow Jesus. Instead, he simply calls himself "the one Jesus loved." This simple yet powerful self-identification holds a crucial lesson for all of us.
Breaking Free from Labels
Think about the labels you've carried through the years:
Stay-at-home mom or working mom
Career woman
Single, married, or divorced
The responsible one
The organized one
The messy one
We wear these roles like well-worn sweaters – comfortable, but sometimes confining. At this stage of life, many of these labels are changing. Your nest might be emptying, you might be caring for aging parents while still parenting your children, or you might be reinventing your career.
The Transformative Power of Understanding Your True Identity
When you understand that you are loved unconditionally, it transforms every aspect of your life:
In Relationships
You stop performing for acceptance
You parent adult children without tying their choices to your worth
You bring fullness to marriages rather than seeking completion from them
You handle conflict with confidence because your worth isn't at stake
In Career and Service
You make decisions based on inspiration rather than fear
You handle criticism without being devastated
You face transitions without identity threats
You lead from security rather than insecurity
In Personal Growth
You care for your body without being defined by appearance
You process failure without shame
You face uncertainty with stability
You celebrate others' successes without comparison
In Spiritual Life
You approach prayer as a beloved child
You serve from overflow rather than obligation
You study scripture to know God's heart
You share your faith authentically
Living from Your True Identity
Understanding your true identity isn't about positive thinking – it's about operating from a different source. Instead of generating worth through what you do, you live from the worth you already have. This shifts everything:
From striving to receiving
From earning to resting
From performing to being
Remember This Truth
You are not what you've achieved or what you've lost. You are not defined by your relationships or your roles. Before and above everything else, you are one whom Jesus loves. This is your true identity, your foundation, and your peace.
Want More Clarity?
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About the Author: Jill Pack is a certified faith-based life coach and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through her podcast "Seasons of Joy" and coaching practice, she helps women navigate life's various seasons with purpose and joy.
