Want to change your life? Change your identity. This works because the way you behave right now is a reflection of your current identity. And if you want to behave differently – to be more motivated towards different things – changing that identity is the key.
Identity based motivation – what is it?
Although this may sound like a new concept, in fact identity based motivation is centuries old. This is the idea that you behave according to how you see yourself. So, if you see yourself as someone who is committed to exercise and regularly goes to the gym then that’s what your behaviour will reflect. If you see yourself as someone who starts lots of fitness programmes but never finishes or makes much progress then THAT is what your behaviour will reflect.
Struggling with motivation? Try this.
Change is difficult and all of us struggle with motivation at one time or another. However, we often don’t realise that we are making things much harder for ourselves by how we see ourselves. Identity – how you see yourself and what you’re capable of – is a driving force for everyone, whether we realise it or not. You can discover what your identity is by looking at how you think and talk about yourself – by looking for the identity statements you make. This is what you saying when you use phrases like this:
“I’m the kind of person who..”
“I’m not that kind of person..”
“I always do..|
“I’d never do…”
“That’s just not me.”
“It comes naturally to me.”
Words reveal identity
Take some time to notice the words you use to talk (and think) about yourself because this is showing you how you see yourself and what you believe is possible for you. I.e. what your current identity is. Once you can see that clearly then you will probably be able to trace it through to your behaviours and the outcomes that those behaviors have created in your life.
Putting identity based motivation into practice
What’s so powerful about this is, once you know what your current identity is, you can change it. Yes, it kind of is that simple. Because of the way your mind works, once you change how you see yourself, you’ll change the thoughts you have, as well as what you notice in the world around you (thanks to the Reticular Activating System) and then what emotions are created and the actions and behaviours those emotions trigger. So, how do you do it?
Step 1 is just to pick a new identity statement. For example:
“I am the kind of person who is committed to my fitness goals and takes steps towards them every day.”
“I am a confident person and believe in myself.”
“I never listen to my inner critic.”
“I always prioritise self-compassion.”
Step 2 is to take that identity statement and start making it habitual. Which means doing at least one thing every day to prove to yourself that this new identity statement is true. What this is going to do is encourage you to put on the identity of someone who is already confident or committed to fitness goals etc – and act like they would.
Step 3 is to repeat that daily and notice the changes in your motivation as a result of shifting your identity in this way.
Motivation isn’t impossible
When it comes to something like motivation it’s easy to see it as intimidating or think that it’s something you’ll never have. But no one is born motivated – you have to create it. And people who are motivated know the secrets to how to create it. Such as identity based motivation. That’s the only difference between them and you.
Resilience coaching and identity based motivation
As a resilience coach I can help you change how you motivate yourself. This is just one of the many simple but powerful tools I use as a coach to give you freedom from old patterns and help you find a new normal going forward. Book an intro call to find out more.
