In Identity Part I, we discussed the problems associated with mistaken identity. In this post, I would like to discuss what makes up your identity, but first, I need to explain the title. According to Merriam-Webster, an armature is a framework a sculptor uses to support a figure modeled in a plastic material. We are the sculptor using the armature to support what will become our identity.
One of the things I appreciate most about Clay Scroggins’ understanding of Identity is that he outlines several factors which make up our identity and doesn’t just throw the bible card and say God makes up our identity. Before diving in, we must acknowledge two planes of identity. First, we live in a fallen world but a physically present world. This is plane number one. Number two is the spiritual realm of whom God says you are, which is his view of you no matter what.
What is Identity?
In his book, “How To Lead When You’re Not In Charge,” Scroggins describes it as your conception of yourself. Your core beliefs about yourself ultimately determine your identity. Those beliefs are formed by various things such as your past, people, personality, purpose, and priorities.
Your Past
We are all being molded and transformed by the life we live. This is why people go to counseling to seek the roots and lies they believed in growing up. Some of these lies may have resulted in you lashing out in anger most of your life, or maybe they influenced you to be a control freak; either way, they did influence your life and add another piece to the framework which builds your identity. I’d encourage you to take time with a counselor or alone to ask yourself how your past has shaped your identity.
Your People
I’m not discussing how people influence you; I will get to that later. I want to grapple with how we sense other people perceive us. For a very long time, I felt that most people didn’t like me. That ultimately made me believe I wasn’t good enough to be enjoyed. Adding in my past and these other points, I began to form an identity about myself…unhealthy, might I add. The people who speak into your life also have much power to speak into your identity, but I will cover that later.
Your Personality
We are all born with certain things hardwired into us. These create part of who we are. But, again, they are just a piece of the framework but are nonetheless important. Therefore, I’d highly encourage you to take a personality test, but remember that it doesn’t define you; it simply helps you better understand how you react to things. Scroggins emphasizes the importance of this saying, “…the more you understand the makeup of your personality, the better you can understand how your identity shapes your thoughts, desires, and decisions, and the better you’ll be able to work with others.”
Your Purpose
This may not seem relevant to your identity, but according to Scroggins, “What you believe about why you’re on earth will deeply affect the opportunities you see available to you and how you should capitalize on them with your time, gifts, talents, and energy.” When spoken that way, it makes total sense, right?
Your Priorities
This is where you have much power. You can choose what you allow to define you. Clay says there are two things he has allowed to be of top priority in his life. The first, he says, is “because I have been created in the image of God, I am a CHOSEN child of the King.” The second is that “for God so loved me that Jesus died for me.” You need to figure out what takes priority in your life. What are you allowing to shape you, and how much of it are you allowing?
Being The Sound Engineer Of Your Life
In his book, Scroggins uses the audio in a church service to describe different people’s voices in our lives. For example, the guitar may need to be turned down; the vocals may need to be added to a different monitor, etc. We need to realize that we are the sound engineer for our lives. We choose whom we allow to speak into our lives and how loud. Try not to mute people because they can help keep balance.
I love the topic that you are average of the three people you’re around. But if that is true, you need to be extremely careful of the voices in your life. For some of us, this could be as innocent as a helicopter parent who doesn’t let you do anything, ultimately teaching you not to take risks. For others, this may be a boss who constantly criticizes your work, making you fear giving your ideas and opinions. Social media is another voice that plays into your life. Do you need to bring that down a bit?
Remember, this isn’t about eliminating these things from your life but figuring out how much to allow. This is the same reason we don’t spend all our time around non-believers; it creates a lack of balance. Instead, we need to look at our life and decide what needs to be turned up and what needs to be turned down. I won’t claim to know the mix you need, but it doesn’t hurt to turn God up.
In Identity Part III, we will dive into what God says about our identity and how the spiritual plane interacts with the physical realities that shape our identity.