Who Do You Think You Are?

 

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Who are you? Are you your name, your job, your home? Do these things define who you are inside? In my meditation class, we often discuss this idea; my teacher posing that we are not defined by our material possessions or what we do for work. Yet, we love to put each other into boxes – it’s how we understand the world. For example, my teacher is a lawyer (super-intelligent), she owns a Rolex (successful) and she runs marathons (fitness bunny).

It can feel uncomfortable and restrictive to be placed in a box, but when we are starting our own business, applying for a promotion or even entering a new relationship, could identifying the ‘box’ we authentically and naturally fit into help others see us more clearly? And, moreover, could it help us improve our self-awareness and understanding?

Personal branding expert Salma Shah believes that by recognising our ‘deeper psychological archetype’, we can create a brand that is rooted to who we truly are. She explains that the best personal brands are the ones whose archetypes we can pick out immediately. Take Oprah Winfrey – the ‘Healer’; the wise woman. We immediately know her as that person – it’s concise and it’s credible. It’s also why Oprah is such a great brand – her archetype helps us understand who she is and what she has to offer us.

Essential essence