Fall Planning Isn't Just for School Kids: How to Plan Your Identity Shift

Are you ready for back-to-school season? Even if you're not heading to a classroom, this fall can be your time to create real change in your life. Today I want to share five myths that are keeping you from truly becoming who you want to be – the person who gets things done, completes projects, doesn't overspend or overeat, and says what they do and does what they say.

Where Does Your Identity Really Come From?

Most of our identity comes from how other people have described us over the years. I had a client who believed she was "shy" for 67 years – until she realized it was just something her parents had said, and she'd kept believing it. Once she saw the truth, everything changed. She started hosting events, making suggestions, and stepping up in ways she never thought possible.

Your authentic self is who you most believe in and who you aspire to be. It comes from being honest, facing truth, and not justifying your limitations. The beautiful thing? Your authentic self can change and grow.

The 5 Myths Keeping You Stuck

Myth #1: Personality Can Be Categorized Into Types

Those personality tests might make you feel brilliant, but they're actually limiting you. When you believe you're "just a certain way," you stop yourself from creating the life you really want. Don't put yourself in a box that keeps you from your potential.

Myth #2: Personality Is Innate and Fixed

You're not stuck with the luck of the draw. As Dallin H. Oaks said, "Don't choose to label ourselves or think of ourselves in terms that put a limit on a goal for which we might strive." Where will your current thinking lead you? Choose labels that expand rather than limit your future.

Myth #3: Personality Comes From Your Past

Just because you've always done something doesn't mean you have to keep doing it. Your past is actually a tool – you can learn from it and then change. Sometimes the past deserves a second chance, but you get to decide what that looks like.

Myth #4: Personality Must Be Discovered

George Bernard Shaw got it right: "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." When you realize you're 100% responsible for your results, it might feel scary, but it's also incredibly empowering. Personality tests are fast food for the soul – they make you believe you can discover your true self instantly, but real growth takes intentional work.

Myth #5: Personality Is Your True and Authentic Self

This might be the most dangerous myth of all. When we say "that's just not who I am," we're limiting our growth. The more we push ourselves, the more we can become.

My Personal Challenge

I know I have a tendency to be a workaholic and try to prove my worth. I could blame my upbringing, or I could take responsibility and decide that doesn't have to define me. During a recent vacation, I challenged myself to stop checking my phone for business updates and redirecting my brain every time I went down that worry road. It was like my weight loss journey all over again – learning to be my more authentic self through honest self-reflection.

Your Turn: Plan Your Identity Shift

Here's what I want you to do this fall:

1. Think about who you want to be. Look at people you admire. What is it about them that draws you? Write it down.
2. Get specific. If you want to be more chill like someone you admire, what would the more chill version of you look like? What would she read? How would she spend her time?
3. Make a decision. Remember, personality isn't permanent. You're not your own job description set in stone.
4. Take action. Even if it's buying yourself new shoes or a journal to signify this new learning phase – make a commitment to growth.

The truth is, you have the power to create exactly who you want to be. It's not about discovering some hidden, fixed version of yourself. It's about honestly facing where you are, deciding where you want to go, and taking the steps to get there.

This back-to-school season, give yourself permission to grow into the person you've always wanted to be. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Ready to start your identity shift? The first step is having a conversation about what's keeping you stuck and how to move forward. You have nothing to lose by exploring what's possible.

Book a call with me and we can explore together!