Unintentional identity is the stuff of which nightmares are made...

I have recently been thinking a lot about what it means to be intentional while I continue to reach for the stars. While suffering through my daily Duolingo torture session and setting new personal records for my 10,000 steps, I realized that the thing I am running from is what Susie Scott (2023) describes as "failed identity." This is the unformed alternate self that is left behind when we prioritize assimilation over authenticity.

Though I understand the purposeful use of the word "failed," I see this way of being as more of a rote act of mindlessness rather than intentionality. Far too many of us are operating from a place of "accidental identity." We have spent years polishing a mirror that reflects values that do not belong to us.

By failing to form truer versions of ourselves, we fall into the density of survival mode. We become chameleons, blending into environments that do not recognize our true frequency. Identity should not be something we stumble upon; it should be something we architect.

If our current environment does not align with our core values, the solution is not to shrink ourselves to fit the mold. Instead, we need to use our frequency to shift that environment or build up the courage to seek a new one that recognizes our light ✨.

If you got this far into the post, first, thank you 😁! Next, I invite you to consider where you are standing. Are you leading from a place of "accidental identity," or are you consciously directing your content and presence with intention? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Reference: Scott, S. (2023). Failed identities: On the processes and meanings of unformed alternate selves. In Routledge International Handbook of Failure (pp. 111-122).