One of the things I often encounter when interviewing someone who wants to create income in a new arena (such as network marketing), is a fear of moving beyond their current identity and status

Is your identity holding you back?

This fear, or dilemma if you will, is one that anyone can encounter who’s being called beyond where they are now.

Especially if they’ve spent years developing skills, a reputation, and achievement in a certain arena. Or even if they’ve simply gotten comfortable with what’s already familiar and what they already know how to do.

So today regardless of your background – whether you’re an at-home mom or dad; a student, a teacher, or an employee; an author speaker, or coach; an athlete or artist; or a business owner or professional; or something else – here’s my question for you:

Do you have a desire to create and contribute beyond your current professional or personal identity and the role you’re now in?

And if so, do you have the courage to step beyond where you are now?

Whether or not it actually manifests as you doing something different, you’ll experience a new level of freedom when you’re no longer attached to being seen, appreciated, or needed in a certain way. Or conversely, no longer limiting yourself with such statements as

“I’m just a…”

or

“I’m not…”

These statements of identity unconsciously put a lid on how you see yourself, who you could become, and what you could do.

I remember when being a home-birthing doctor gave me a special relationship within my particular church community – drawing to me relationships, respect, and people seeking advice – and it was a very rich and fulfilling experience.I even remember the wonderful feeling of being appreciated as the “hero” at some difficult births.

Yet there came a point when to expand our practice and serve more people, we began partnering with midwives and moved into a more supportive role rather than being the “primary practitioner” at a birth.

At first, I felt like something was missing, but I eventually reached an internal place where serving the outcome – a wonderful birth experience for the couple and family – and serving people – was more important than my actual role and recognition in the process.

This shift became an incredibly freeing transition, and opened up new doors of exploration, creativity, and contribution in life that have eventually led to where I am today, enjoying our 7 kids as they grow up while also working with people around the world – all largely from wherever we happen to be as a family thanks to today’s technology.

Now you may wonder – what about your degree and years of schooling, or what you’ve invested in your current career or role?

What I’ve discovered for myself is that rather than that being “wasted” or tossed aside – that’s all part of the “ingredient mix” that have gone into who I am today, and that I bring to the table with every interaction in life and business.

Much like a mom or dad who may walk away from years of schooling or professional achievement to be at home for a time, or someone who may choose to go to the mission field or develop another part of themselves and the gifts they can bring to the world – nothing’s ever wasted.

It’s all still part of who you are.

You’re just no longer letting any of what you’ve already done or achieved define or limit who you are and what you can do.

With this perspective in mind, here’s a quote that’s often come back to me over the years:
Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to what is before… (Philippians 3:13)
Though given within a deeply spiritual context, this quote conveys a principle that has broad application to all areas of our human experience.

And realize, I’m not necessarily talking about doing something different than you’re doing now, but rather coming from a different place – a place of freedom from attachment to being seen in a certain role or identity – a place that can open up fresh perspective and possibilities.

These new possibilities may arise within your current work and relationships, or they may lead you to a place “beyond,” just as they did for me.

So in closing, let me ask you again:

Is your identity holding you back?

Or is it something that can grow and change — that you can use as a springboard to greater and greater levels of exploration, development, and contribution?

If you’re willing to create beyond your current identity and step into the exciting “unknown,” it could become a deeply fulfilling – and freeing – journey.

So here’s to the freedom and exhilaration of creating beyond where you are now, and how you see yourself today. Enjoy the journey!

Let me know what is holding you back from your career desire in the comments below.

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