Who Are You?

I want to share one of my favourite poems with you. It’s by Erin Hanson and captures beautifully the complexity of our identity.

Not

You are not your age, nor the size of clothes you wear,

You are not a weight, or the color of your hair.

You are not your name, or the dimples in your cheeks.

You are all the books you read, and all the words you speak.

You are your croaky morning voice, and the smiles you try to hide.

You’re the sweetness in your laughter, and every tear you’ve cried.

You’re the songs you sing so loudly when you know you’re all alone.

You’re the places that you’ve been to, and the one that you call home.

You’re the things that you believe in, and the people whom you love.

You’re the photos in your bedroom, and the future you dream of.

You’re made of so much beauty, but it seems that you forgot

When you decided that you were defined by all the things you’re not.

Now, over to you. Who are you?

Sometimes, the identities you create to survive in the world can become a straightjacket that keeps you stuck.

Maybe you overidentify with a role of a caring loving gentle person. I'm sure you are all those things, but if you don't allow all the other parts of you to be seen, even by yourself, then it can feel like you're living half a life.

You can constantly hide your true self and your true feelings, out of fear of being rejected, shamed or humiliated. The reality is never as bad as you imagine. When you shine the light of consciousness on those rejected parts, they seem so benign. You may wonder what took you so long to bring them home. 

If you're ready to set yourself free from those outdated stories join my 3-hour masterclass ‘Who Am I?’ today. Here’s the link: www.gularavincent.co.uk/i-am