We talk about gender bias, religious bias, racial stereotyping, stereotyping OTHERS all the time. What about stereotyping OURSELF?
When I stereotype myself saying “I AM a structured person” I lose access to the possibilities of spontaneity.
When I stereotype myself saying “I AM a spontaneous person” I lose access to the possibilities of consistent, structured efforts.
When I stereotype myself saying “I AM not an academic person” I lose access to the possibilities of learning some new concept deeply.
When I stereotype myself saying “I AM an appreciative person” I lose access to the possibilities of being candid and having difficult conversations.
When I stereotype myself saying “I am an INTJ” I lose access to 15 other possibilities of being in this world!
Much like we feel awkward seeing Daniel Radcliffe play anything other than ‘Harry Potter’! It would be accurate for him to say “I am USED TO playing Harry Potter. Playing anything else is difficult”
But imagine if he said “I AM Harry Potter. So I cannot be anyone else”!
We confuse the roles we PLAY, the personality we HAVE, with who we ARE. We take them too seriously. Then behaving in any other way seems impossible, rather than just “Not used to”.
You are everything. Used to doing some things.
So the question is not “Who am I?” but “Who do I CHOOSE to be…right now?”
Very interesting and informative Enjoyed