How to Figure Out Who You Are: 5 Tips

Figuring out who you are is a lifelong process and a daily practice that can unveil why you behave the way you do. It can provide insight into your core values, beliefs, identity, and general nature. All of this can help you decide what motivates you and what goals you want to achieve.

Even though figuring out who you are is a benefit, you do not have to have a definitive answer at any time. Most humans change and undergo significant shifts in values and personality traits throughout their lives. Your ability to have a sense of self and how you exist in the world is a complex process that can take time and effort. It might require journaling or writing down your thoughts regularly or sussing out what makes you feel most fulfilled.

The paths and methods for finding your sense of self will change and shift over your entire life; however, here are a few tips that can point you in the right direction:

1. 1. Challenge and stretch yourself. Whether or not you possess a strong sense of self, you will find it beneficial to challenge yourself to experience new settings or activities. Similarly, you can talk to people who expose you to situations outside of your comfort zone. If you do the same things and do not steer away from them, you may not fully understand yourself.
2. 2. Practice mindfulness. While the past and future can help you gain perspective on where you come from and where you aim to be, you also need to focus on the present. Mindfulness helps you focus on the “right now.” Take time to breathe and tune out distractions that come with daily life, or practice a meditative exercise to recenter your thoughts and calm your body.
3. 3. Seek community and guidance. The self exists in context to others. Whether you need help finding a sense of self or feel secure as you are, your family members, friends, counselors, or mental health professionals can still guide you and provide support.
4. 4. Self-reflect. Take time to reflect on your life story and your account of your values and goals. Your development in childhood and youth has impacted who you have become. This can help you understand how your past has shaped who you are today.
5. 5. Spend time alone. Solitude is a healthy practice that can have mental health benefits. The outside world can make you feel social pressure to adapt, conform, or shift in ways that may feel disingenuous to your inner self. Spending time alone can help to drown out unnecessary noise.

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