Building a High Performance Identity

Very often what holds us back from success is a deep sense of it not being possible for us. That we aren’t good enough, don’t have what it takes, or don’t have the right natural talent. These untrue and limiting beliefs are stories that are grounded in our own ideas of who we are. Who we believe we are, our identity, is formed in part by our personality and genetics, but also by our early experiences, the people we spend the most time with, the feedback we receive from others, and our emotions and reactions to events. 

It is widely agreed by psychologists and human behaviour experts that ultimately, despite the influence of genes and circumstances, we get to decide who we are. That ultimately, the foundation of who we are is formed by our beliefs, and those are always subject to change and re-imagining. 

One of my favorite quotes by James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, follows.

“Over the long run, the real reason you fail to stick with habits is that your self-image gets in the way. This is why you can’t get too attached to one version of your identity. Progress requires unlearning. Becoming the best version of yourself requires you to continuously edit your beliefs and to upgrade and expand your identity.”

James Clear 

As explained by James Clear, we can hold ourselves back from success and progress by becoming too attached to who we believe we are. To me, the essence of a high-performance identity is this:

I believe I am always able to grow, learn, adapt, and change. 

I believe that I am always capable of improving my skills, knowledge, habits, and character. 

I believe that I am in control of my response to the events of my life and that I have the ability to manage whatever happens.

I believe that I am good enough, simply because I am, and that this can never be changed or determined by something beyond myself.

With these beliefs powering our identity, we can have the courage to strive for big things, solid in the knowledge that we will be able to manage and make our way forward whatever happens. It’s not easy to hold these beliefs, and there will always be moments of doubt. However, it is very important to know that ultimately, we always return to behaviours that align with who we believe we are. So, it’s important to keep working on the continuous upgrading and expansion of our identity that James Clear reminds us is essential to becoming the best version of ourselves. 

If you’re ready to do the work of leaving behind who you think you are and becoming who you choose to be, book a discovery session with Annika today.