Ever notice how when most people are asked to introduce themselves (the tell me more about yourself question), they would likely say “I’m X, I’m a software engineer” or “I’m Y, I work in Finance”. No one goes “I’m Z, a soul-baring, fun- loving guy with a penchant for competitions, my dog Pluto and a knack for annoying those close to me!”.
The vast majority of people have their identity intricately ingrained with their job. Let me add that the vast majority of people do not like their jobs! So hang on, we tie our identity to a role we dislike? What kind of mind-twisting sorcery is at play here?
I’m headed in to work on Monday after my 4.5 months of absence. I’m to have a chat with the boss-man that I’m ready to quit. The truth is, I’m not entirely ready. When you’re on the cusp of losing something is when you see it in a different light with increased intensity. A nod and a slight modification to R.E.M.’s popular song, I feel like I’m Losing My Identity 😉
Perhaps I should invest in finding my identity separate from work? Perhaps I need a better introduction of myself that says more than my profession for that is a smoke screen and far from who and what I am as a person. By constantly tying our identities to work, we lose sight of ourselves. We conform. We think that’s all there is to our existence. Nay, I’m being stripped of my job soon (most times I feel by choice, sometimes I feel by circumstances). I’m being stripped of my smoke screen identity. So what am I and who am I?
Heya, I’m K. I’m an independent, fun-loving, filled with zest for life and laugh till I cry kinda gal who loves a good chat and aspires to be a competent ass-kicker!
Does that sound better than “Hi, I’m K and I work in Finance?”
Let’s have some fun and do go for the comments section here 🙂 Strip the job away and tell me more about yourself 😉
Author: Ms.K
Ms.K is everything that Mr.C is, without the natural interest in investing and company financials! The activity planner for the family, the driver of random ideas and soon to be ‘retiring’ in to full time motherhood – Ms.K has no idea what she’s in for but remains super excited!
Hey, I’m Mr.C and I’m looking for an independent, fun-loving, filled with zest for life and laugh till I cry kinda gal who loves a good chat. Competent ass-kicker would be a plus but not necessary as can be learnt on the job. 😉
Okay, jokes aside. Hi I’m Mr. C. I’m a curious human being, passionate about social causes, wish I could do more to change the world, in the meantime working towards leaving my positive mark, cry at movies and love fried chicken kinda guy. Oh and I like fish. Rearing and eating them. 🙂
Mysteriously fishy Mr.C, call me maybe 😉 Thanks for being such a sport!
Haha that’s a cute description from Mr C 😆. I tend to think that people tie their identities closely to their jobs because that is what they spend most of their time on? In a similar fashion, if you ask any school going children, it might go along the lines of……
Hi I am John Tan and I am a primary 5 from Townsville primary school. (Then perhaps come their hobbies etc).
I completely agree as that’s pretty much where the bulk of my waking hours go as well and I had a rather hard time coming up with my bucket list because my work was my identity. Take work away and I felt I was losing myself and having a quarter life crisis almost, haha! It’s a good thing am taking work away by choice ( a post on that coming up soon) for I would be unprepared for these emotions otherwise.
I have been asking friends now what is their identity outside work? What is their passion? Often, people stumble. Aimless without work to guide their days. Should work really consume us? If one is passionate about it then I suppose that’s great. If one likes it but can’t quite put it in the same sentence as passion, then what should consume his/her time if you were to be deliberate about it?
I suppose that’s the purpose of this post, to get the conversation flowing when one looks deep to talk about what lights their fire.