Being a teenager is an interesting time.
I say this in the context of being young and developing an initial sense of identity and what is important to you. It is not an easy task. Let’s face it, there are different peer groups, school activities, friend’s expectations, parent’s expectations, teacher’s or coaches expectations, and then there is television and social media bombarding you with what you need to be cool or unique. Somewhere in all this mess, you are forced to organize all this and create your own identity and standards or face chaos that leaves you unhappy.
Even though you may feel like at times it is unclear what you really want, the good news is you are young and there is a lot (trust me a lot) to explore. The world is yours. I remember when I was in my first year or two of college I was listening to a personal development program and there were two big questions that I was told to ask myself.
These two questions are, “Who are you?” and “What do you want?”
The importance of this exercise is you will define who you are and your standards with clarity. This will save you a lot of time in knowing what to do (or not to do) in any situation.
So with the question “Who are you?”… this is what you should do: (It will be a good idea to print this page so you can complete the exercise below.)
Make a list of different areas of your life that are important to you, like health, friends, family, activities you love, academics, spirituality, time, money, purpose, etc. You may want to turn on some motivational and inspiring music to get you in the flow and then start write a powerful line for each category, like a mission statement.
Maybe for school as an example, you want to be looked at as a smart person, someone that can make a large impact now or in the future. Your description would be something like this: “I am a light to people around me and for myself because I have the power to influence and solve difficult problems.” Notice I used present tense, “I am.” This is important to use to get your subconscious mind focused on who you are without thinking about it. It becomes molded into your brain and soul.
Question #1: Who are you?
Write your Category and Mission Statement below. For example: Category: School Mission Statement: I am a light to people around me and for myself because I have the power to influence and solve difficult problems.
1.Category____________________________
Mission Statement: I am _______________________________
2.Category ____________________________
Mission Statement: I am _______________________________
3.Category ____________________________
Mission Statement: I am _______________________________
4.Category____________________________
Mission Statement: I am _______________________________
5.Category____________________________
Mission Statement: I am _______________________________
6.Category____________________________
Mission Statement: I am _______________________________
7.Category____________________________
Mission Statement: I am _______________________________
8. Category____________________________
Mission Statement: I am _______________________________
9. Category____________________________
Mission Statement: I am _______________________________
10. Category___________________________
Mission Statement: I am _______________________________
Once you have a description of who you are in each category, ask yourself what traits you would need to have in order to be that person.
In order to influence and solve difficult problems, you may need to be knowledgeable, resourceful, open-minded, motivated, disciplined, good at critical thinking, etc.
Lastly, for each trait you would like to have, ask yourself what actions do I need to take to have these traits?
Write them down below. Once you go through this process you now know your true identity and where to spend your time and why. Just this alone puts you in a powerful position and gives you a sense of control that most of the adult population does not even have!
Category 1______________________________________
Traits needed (List all) Actions Needed (List all)
Category 2______________________________________
Traits needed (List all) Actions Needed (List all)
Category 3______________________________________
Traits needed (List all) Actions Needed (List all)
Category 4______________________________________
Traits needed (List all) Actions Needed (List all)
Category 5______________________________________
Traits needed (List all) Actions Needed (List all)
Category 6______________________________________
Traits needed (List all) Actions Needed (List all)
Category 7______________________________________
Traits needed (List all) Actions Needed (List all)
Category 8______________________________________
Traits needed (List all) Actions Needed (List all)
Category 9______________________________________
Traits needed (List all) Actions Needed (List all)
Category 10______________________________________
Traits needed (List all) Actions Needed (List all)
The next big question is “What do you want?”
To get clarity write down all you want in life and what you do not want. For example I love traveling but I do not like cleaning. Write down all you can think of.
What I Want…
What I do not Want…
If you completed the exercise, you are positioned for greatness! Keep thinking through this exercise and the more clear you become, the better chance you will get what you want in life.
About the Author: Troy WEST is one of Your Monthly Mentors, the CEO of Lifestyle Financial Planning (LFP) and an avid lifestyle entrepreneur based in Denver, Colorado. He was recently recognized as one of “America’s Premier Experts,” was inducted into The National Academy of Best-Selling Authors, was a Thought Leader Summit Award winner, an Expy award winner, and was inducted into The National Academy of Experts, Writer’s, and Speakers. Troy recently co-authored The Road to Success with Jack Canfield, is about to release another co-authored book called “The Better Business Book,” and is in negotiations for a full book on The Retirement Myth. Troy has been seen on ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, BRAVO, and A&E. Read More…
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