How to shift your identity: A step-by-step guide to reinvent yourself

Introduction

Did you know that there have been several cases of people winning large sums of money from the lottery or an inheritance, but soon after they end up back to their reality, or in some cases, much worse off?

Some of these stories are quite sad and unlucky.

But beyond the crazy examples of family feuds, deaths, and other drama — The big part of why this happens frequently is related to the topic of this video - identity shifting.

When a person achieves something external (and above their norm), there’s a mismatch between their inner and outer world.

As a result, a person will often find ways to subconsciously self-sabotage their success.

Watch video version:

Understanding Identity

Your internal thermostat

We all have an internal thermostat. And the idea of an internal thermostat isn’t new. Oftentimes, people use this relating to money and refer to the financial thermostat.

Just like a heating thermostat comes on when the room temperature reaches a certain level, our panic mode and actions kick in when we drop to a certain level financially.

This also applies to other aspects of the self and parts of our lives.

Interestingly, we all have a personal level that can be changed.

In the lotto example, a person blows all their money partying, gambles it away, gets into ridiculous debt, or finds other ways to lose it.

It happens because they haven’t shifted their internal identity, beliefs, and habits to be aligned with someone capable of keeping or growing that money. Their life returns to their thermostat level.

The same applies to all areas of life.

Tony Robbins talks about raising your standards. Or said differently, making your wants become musts.

Action: Thermostat self-assessment

• What is the amount of money that I can have in my bank before I feel motivated or stressed to make it change?
• At what point would I decide to change my health and fitness habits based on my body weight? What is that weight?
• What level of energy am I willing to settle for each day before I decide to make changes?

So the question becomes, can you change your identity?

Can a person's identity be changed?

A person's identity can be changed multiple times throughout their lives. That’s because identity isn’t fixed. It’s linked to values, beliefs, and how one sees themselves (self-image) or (self-concept).

Right now, you have multiple identities. Some present and some past.

Think about a time when you may have taken up a new hobby…

Perhaps you:

Joined a sports team

Followed a particular eating style

Started a business

Took a new class in school

Discovered a passion for gaming

You may identify as:

• A soccer player
• A musician
• A vegan
• An artist
• An entrepreneur
• A bodybuilder
• A gamer
• A teacher
• A student
• An expat
• A digital nomad

etc…

And you likely identify as multiple versions of these.

Therefore, if you change your interests, passions, environment, beliefs, values, behaviours, and goals - it will shift your identity to be aligned with your new path.

That’s why it’s incredibly important that you spend time thinking for yourself, questioning things, reflecting, and finding clarity on who you are and what you want.

One thing’s for sure, if you don’t do this, your path will automatically take you down a random direction, usually where the masses go.

What does it mean to change your identity?

Changing your identity means changing the core construct of how you see yourself and how you relate to the world.

This includes your self-image, values, beliefs, behaviours, and goals.

You can shift your identity in a few ways…

Through Intention - This is to align you closer to the goals you want to achieve.

Through Automation - This is to go wherever you will go.

You might have heard the famous quote, “You don’t get what you want in life, you get who you are”.

That’s because your identity is the driving force behind everything that you do.

You can talk about wanting to achieve all of your desires, goals, and biggest ambitions in life, but if you don’t change who you are at the core, it won’t happen.

This is where people will often procrastinate or self-sabotage and wonder why they’re doing it.

Those times when you say, “I know what I need to do, but I’m just not doing it”.

Or you keep repeating the same patterns over and over.

Just like the lottery winners, you may be able to relate in the context of relationships.

Like the person who gets into a healthy relationship but then somehow, unintentionally destroys things. Or they find themselves attracting the same type of partner who isn’t good for them.

This happens because they haven’t overcome their patterns and shifted their view of themselves.

The same idea can apply to fitness and weight loss. A person with low self-worth and a certain view of themselves will always find a way to return to their normal level unless they shift their identity.

Transformation happens when you shift internally

These are all classic cases of how people try to force external results without doing the inner work.

Their values, beliefs, and self-image haven’t demonstrated a shift.

Therefore, most of the time, these people will subconsciously act in ways that take them back to their current view of themselves.

Before I began working with clients, when I was a late teenager/young adult, I often didn’t understand how some people were able to get so out of shape.

In my mind, I always thought that if I had a bad week with eating, didn’t exercise well, or was slipping behind, I’d easily correct the following week.

And that taught me an important lesson.

Especially when I began coaching and helping others. I understood more deeply about values, beliefs, self-image, and identity.

For me, fitness was easy because it was my life. I loved it, I read blog posts about it, watched videos, and took courses. Therefore, it didn’t feel like work.

To others, it was hard.

And areas that others found easy, I found hard.

It was a valuable lesson because it gave me a new perspective to help all my clients from when I became a coach.

Things become easier when you become the type of person who does that thing.

Why do some people change their identity?

Generally, people will change their identity as their passions, hobbies, and interests change over time.

When someone is struggling in a particular area of life, this can often spark a desire for change.

Most people pursuing self-improvement will be doing so because they want to improve some aspect of themselves and their lives.

What is the power of identity-shifting?

The power in identity shifting is the power to be, do, and have a different life. To level up and upgrade all that you are.

How can I shift my identity?

Okay, now we can talk about how to shift your identity.

It goes like this…

Step #1 - Awareness of the problem and desire

• What is the specific problem you face?
• What is that pain or challenge revealing to you about what you desire?

(This is where clarity comes from)

Step #2 - Letting go

When you’ve had a hard look at your reality and noticed the gap between where you want to get to, you have to be honest with yourself.

• What beliefs do you need to change?
• Self-sabotaging patterns that need to go?
• Are there any relationships - peers, friends, etc that need changing?

Becoming the 2.0 version isn’t about creating an imaginary you that doesn’t exist. It’s about removing the BS stories, limits, and comfort zone that you’ve become accustomed to. Then, you’ll realize you already have the greatest version of yourself within.

Step #3 - Creating the You 2.0 (values, beliefs, and behaviours)

This is a creative part of deciding who you want to become. What values, beliefs, and behaviours do you want to adopt?

• Determine core values
• Identify limiting beliefs
• List out key habits
• Ideal physical appearance

Step #4 - Skills & Knowledge (daily learning)

This simply means to find specific books, courses, or other education that will increase your knowledge and skills toward your ideal self.

• Daily reading habit
• Daily study habit
• Daily reflection and implementation

Step #5 - Daily Habits (goals, audio affirmations, visualization, HPA’s)

Consider what habits you might want to consider to step in and shift to the new version of yourself.

Step #6 - Environment (Your physical environment and influences)

Your environment influences your identity.

• People in your life
• Physical environment - home, office, location

Step #7 - Mentor or coach (Have someone to help you 1:1)

Going alone will take you longer and it’s easy to see things from a single perspective. A coach and mentor can save you time and effort as well as provide a new perspective.

• Apply to work with me

Step #8 - Consistency (Self-discipline)

It’s not a do-it-once kinda thing. You have to show up consistently for some time.

• Track habits
• Weekly reflections
• Track progress

Once you know these things, you can add some of the following practices:

• Visualization of future self
• Vision boards
• Audio affirmations
• Image makeover
• Adopting key personality traits
• Identity actions and habits

Embody your future self with the daily dose

• Daily repetition of ideal life - audio, video, image, writing
• Daily affirmations - audio
• Daily identity shift track - audio
• Daily goal card (From Bob Proctor)
• Daily visualization (before sleep)
• Wardrobe makeover
• Nutrition overhaul
• Fitness transformation
• Networking events
• Daily studying

If you want my help with this, you can apply to work with me using the link below. I only have space for 3 people max right now.