purpose — Blog — Innovative Leadership Solutions, LLC

Have you ever been asked to elaborate on this statement, Tell me a little bit about yourself? How do you describe who YOU are? Certainly, the context of the situation and having good boundaries will determine what you share.

But, for your sake, do you truly know who YOU are at the core of your being?

Notice the focus on being and not doing. Yes, who YOU are influences what you do and what you achieve in life. But, who YOU are at your core is what makes you special to fulfill your unique life purpose.

Getting back to the question, your answer is most likely yes and no. Yes, based on your perceptions and what others perceive to know about you. No, because that reality is partially true. First, you have blind spots. Second, how many people fully know you? Third, as life goes on, you discover more about yourself and the person you’re becoming.

It is also dependent upon how much YOU have invested in this reflective and discovery process (I will sprinkle questions throughout this article).

When is the last time you have truly reflected on who YOU are?
And as a result, did YOU desire to make changes and seek to opportunities to grow?

Not everyone chooses to change or grow. Yet, growth at any stage of life is always possible. Since you are reading this article, I believe you are a person seeking to grow. Not growth at the ocean’s surface, like snorkeling, but growth at the ocean’s depth like scuba diving.

This transformational growth happens from the inside-out. Yes, growth begins with YOU!

Do you desire more joy, fulfillment, purpose, achievement, and significance in your life?
If so, what is holding you back?

You can be your own worst enemy. The good news, is that YOU can break free and thrive!

As Christians, we have a solid shared foundation of our identity in the truth of God’s Word. At the same time, each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) in the image of God. As Pastor Mitch Gowen at Our Savior Hawaii, would say, “You are a unique and unreproducible miracle of God."

How strongly do you hold yourself in high regard for the unique and valuable person you are beyond what you do?
What is the quality of your relationship with yourself?
How is your perspective of who YOU are been influenced by others and life experiences?
Do you accept all of yourself, strengths, weaknesses, uniqueness, and imperfections?

Mark 12:30-31 lists the essential elements that make up who YOU are at your core (heart, mind, and soul). Jesus shares His greatest commandment for us, love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Then He shares His second greatest commandment for us, Love your neighbor as yourself.

Heart. In Proverbs 4:23, King Solomon refers to the heart as the wellspring of life. What is in your heart, pours out into your daily life. Who YOU are and what YOU believe, your heart posture, drives your behaviors, actions, and decisions which influence your results. Thus, who YOU are will impact how you live and the fruit you will bear in your life.

Mind. Your thoughts. Worldly thoughts can rob you of joy, fulfillment, purpose, achievement, and significance in your life. Thus, short-changing you of who YOU are and how YOU are to grow. In Romans 12:2, Paul urges you to be transformed by the renewing of your mind which is accomplished by a heavenly perspective with God’s help. As a result, you will be able to understand and discern what is the will of God for your life. Transform your thinking and transform your life with an eternal, faith perspective.

Soul. Two aspects. First, the status of your humanity. As stated by King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die (vv. 1-2). He gives 14 pairings in this passage. God is God (sovereign and immortal) and you are human (not fully in control and mortal). Second, your soul is also the expression of your humanity: to experience pain and loss and to express your emotions and feelings. Ultimately, how you choose to live this life, is everything in light of eternity. Because sin was brought into the world by Adam and Eve all humans share in this sinful nature and so we cannot save ourselves. However, the Good News (literally) is found in John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. That is not just pie-in-the-sky hope, but rather an eternal promise (eternal life will happen for you through faith in Jesus).

Strength. Also included in v. 30. Here Mark refers to the interconnectedness of heart, mind, and soul and the level of strength you have will influence to that degree everything in your life. In Philippians 4:13, Paul refers to enduring the realities of life by proclaiming, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

How would YOU describe your current state of being human in the context of your heart, mind, and soul?
How is your ability to endure the realities of life?
What patterns and themes did you notice that emerged for you?

Knowing how much God loves you (His unconditional love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for you) helps you to love and accept who YOU are in light of all that He has done for you. Yet, God has more growth in store for YOU!

Now that you know the essential elements that make up who YOU are, you have a better understanding of what it means to love God and others. For example, strength in v. 30, refers to the degree that you love God by the power of the Holy Spirit. The same is true for yourself, that the presence of the Holy Spirit within you, enables you to love and accept yourself as God does. To the degree you love God through faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit, and in light of His favor towards you, will be to the degree you love yourself, and to the degree you love others. You are not striving for perfection because that is impossible. You can only give to the degree that you have received. So, embrace and receive what God has freely given to you and who You are in Him!

How does this relate to your life’s mission?

It’s crystal clear. The heart of your mission is to love God and love people. This means embracing and accepting His favor for you so you can freely give your whole being to love Him and to love others. How you serve in your mission, is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1).

Wonder how to get started?

Simply begin by completing “I am” statements. Perhaps you would like to create a visual that encompasses who YOU are, similar to the image in this article. Write down whatever shows up as you reflect without judgment. Do include how you show up as both positive attributes and growth opportunities where YOU influence your personal and professional life.

If you want to take a deeper dive into exploring and discovering more about yourself, a certified coach can guide you through this process. Coaching is an inquiry and thought-provoking approach to increase your awareness of your motivations, emotions, feelings, thoughts, and beliefs that influence how you perceive yourself, others, and all reality. At the same time, you have been influenced by past experiences which contribute to who YOU are, what YOU do, and how YOU respond to the demands of reality. In fact, at Innovative Leadership Solutions, LLC, our first step in our proven process, The IMPACT Journey, is Introspection where we help you get to the heart, mind, and soul of who you are and how that influences your personal and professional life. We partner with you in the coaching process to support your self-discovery about your internal and external reality which increases your self and other awareness and desire to take action towards your envisioned future.

To learn more, schedule a free consultation call by clicking on this link https://calendly.com/naomi-ils/30min?month=2021-10