Very often our identities are identified strictly by our job title. When people ask what you do, you respond with a job title. The truth is that it is one mere categorization of who we are, for there is a lot more to people than just a job and job title. Jobs often define us because that is how we spend our days. 40 hours a week (or more) are spent making a living so that you are able to provide for your family and yourself.
What happens when we change jobs? Our identities change with it but our natural ego remains the same. As a young college graduate you may have dreams to pursue one career but more than ten years down the road, more than likely, that changes. Traditionally, children would follow in their parents footsteps when choosing a career path. Nowadays, people are able to follow their own beliefs, values, and preferences to chose a career path. By choosing jobs based on your own beliefs, you are more likely to be a happier person and have less stress and greater job satisfaction as opposed to working in a job that is not in line with your values and beliefs.
Although we spend most of our lives at work, we have other identities like a father/son, spouse, or role model to others. However on the outside we ultimately identify ourselves by careers. It is important for people to realize that you are able to create a new identity for yourself by changing beliefs you have of yourself and of the outside world. Do not be confined in identifying by your career, instead chose your career based on what defines and identifies yourself.
In the words of Jim Carrey “I just want to be myself”.
Steve Blythe (Recruitment and Social Media Commentator).
