The Beginning of Identity

Weekly Recap

Happy Tuesday!

I totally thought I sent last week’s email on Thursday … I wrote it out, put it in the system, approved the test email and then … never actually hit send.

So! You can read it here if you’d like.

I am pretty stoked to be back from traveling - love being out and about, but love being home.

Also love being back at the office and seeing the team’s progress on everything, we’re building so fast and yet striving to stay true to human connection and relationship - what a balancing act today.

The Beginning of Identity

Ok, I’ve said this would come out and honestly, I just need to be ok with a “living document/series”.

There are two parts of this; one quite scientific (I will dabble) and the other incredibly spiritual (I will dabble).

Just to get it out of the way, if you’re not into this thing, hit unsubscribe below and no hard feelings!

BUT! If you’re into exploring who you are uniquely created to be and unpack what that means in today’s crazy world - then let’s embark on this together.

Remember, it’s all about learning, applying, and sharing.

Ok - so identity is a funny thing because it’s ultimately something you discover.

That ticks a lot of people off because they get uncomfortable having a conversation around discovery and identity - in the same sentence.

It’s not all oooh aaah, ok.

Discovery is simply the process of learning, uncovering, unpacking, observing, and realizing.

An important distinction is going to be around the definition of identity though - because, well, just because …

So, identity = noun meaning sameness, or oneness. (Webster 1828)

Merriam-Webster says “sameness of essential or generic character in different instances, sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing, the condition of being the same with something described or asserted, who someone is”

Ok - break it down…. It’s being one with an objective reality …. Simpler.... Identity is being one with that thing we identify as.

So, kids claim to be furries as their identity and dress up as whatever and all the things… yeah, ok, they are identifying as something.

At the same time, that would be considered… delusional.

“The act of deluding; deception; a misleading of the mind”

Because it’s not identifying as the objective reality of who someone is.

It’s attempting to be (not actually being) the same as something described.

Ok, why the crazy monologue on the first email of this series?

Because without this next statement, we can’t unpack who we were, who we are, or who we are meant to be (and I’m writing to a fairly mixed audience haha)

If we want to get to the place of knowing (I mean CONFIDENTLY knowing) who we are, then we have to first establish a level playing field.

We are seeking the objective reality - who we are uniquely created to be, by design.

This will ultimately weed out counterfeits, delusions, and imaginary (false reality) outcomes.

We will be unable to claim just anything as our identity, because there will be a finite selection of options given we are pursuing an objective reality.

Clear as mud?

It’s very simple discovering who you are created to be, but distinguishing between subjective and objective is critical and the hardest piece here.

There will be times I will jump ahead and state some objective facts for readers who are already there, but it’s important to realize… you do NOT define your identity.

It is something you discover and walk in (meaning claim, establish, act in, make decisions from, etc).

As I started this journey on a whole new level this past January/February, I was amazed by the process.

It was like learning about myself all over again, and the craziest part, it made things make more sense instead of more confusing.

I love how science ultimately (the observations, order, laws) proves one thing over and over again - there is intelligent design all around us.

The most fascinating and awe-inspiring design - YOU.

Everything about you, from your personality to your unique abilities to your dreams and aspirations is so incredibly designed, AND fits in a puzzle SO well that it’s hard to fathom how it keeps happening with every new baby born.

And yet, we keep slipping further and further into confusion, and into despair.

Now, before next week’s email hits - I need a certain level of commitment from you.

This has to be a dialogue.

I mean it - I want to hear from you and to process the different perspectives and opinions.

I guarantee you, if we haven’t already, we will disagree.

Super ok with that.

In fact, I’m stoked about it!

That’s what helps us keep learning and growing.

So, as I learn and apply and share, my ask is that you do the same.

Really think through each thing I’m saying, weigh it, and share when you have something that aligns AND disagrees.

That’s going to make for some crazy cool growing this next month.

Ok, ready??

Let’s do this!

Live purpose-filled and relationship rich!

-DC