The Practitioner's Journal | Jiu Jitsu

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Rethink Everything: Death to Your Identity

How often are you rethinking your current views?

For a lot of people, the answer may be never. 

For us to rethink our current views, we must be willing to kill our identity. 

Though this may seem like an easy task, know that your identity is not only the image you have of yourself, but it is also how your friends, family, and colleagues perceive you.  

To kill your identity, you must be willing to battle the opposition you will get from these people. 

When you start to change, people will resist the idea. 

They don’t want to see a new person, they want someone they are familiar and comfortable with. 

As you start making changes to your identity, you are at risk of losing them. 

Why?

Because the person they know is not the person you may become and they are scared to lose you. 

I have found the only way we are able to rethink our current views and ultimately change our identity is if we have a process in place to do so. 

So what does this process look like?

The first step is acknowledgment. 

You have to accept the fact that everything you know and believe in, may be wrong. 

So ask yourself:

  • Do we truly want to change? 

  • What if your beliefs are wrong? 

  • What if your identity is tied to those beliefs?

The truth is, everything we know is a belief.

And if history has taught us one thing, it's that every belief can be broken. 

Beliefs act as barriers and obstructions from the truth. 

The more attached we are to these beliefs, the more likely we are to fiercely defend them, even at the cost of our own growth.

When we attach our identities to these beliefs, we tend to cherry-pick information that fits our existing narrative.

But what if we acknowledge that everything we think we know may not be entirely true?

This realization prompts us to rethink these narratives.

The fixed mindset clings stubbornly to their beliefs, while the growth mindset questions all of their beliefs. 

Many of us may perceive ourselves as "growth-minded individuals," but it's essential to question whether we truly embody this mindset.

Rethinking our beliefs requires courage and open-mindedness. It involves challenging our preconceptions, seeking alternative perspectives, and being willing to let go of what no longer serves us. 

It's a journey of self-discovery and personal evolution.

So, let's unmask the truth, break free from the shackles of stagnant beliefs, and embrace the transformative power of rethinking. 

By cultivating a growth mindset and constantly questioning our beliefs, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and the opportunity for authentic growth.

If you don’t have a process for reflection, deep thinking, and rethinking, you will likely never change your thoughts, and in return will likely never change your behaviors.

Own the process,

Tim

Author of Mastery Monday

Founder & Student