Separating Identity From Your Job

By: Emily - Mindful Career Journey

There was a time when my job was my identity.

My title, my team, my LinkedIn headline, they weren’t just what I did, they were who I thought I was.  When someone asked, “Tell me about yourself,” I’d immediately answer with my job title.  I didn’t talk about my interests, values, or the things that I enjoyed, just my role.  Have you done that?    

Late nights, early mornings, the constant pressure to prove myself, I wore it like a badge of honor.  Until one day, I left the role, I realized I had no idea who I was without it.  That’s the part no one prepares you for.

When you pour so much of your worth into a title or a company……losing it, even voluntarily, can feel like losing a piece of yourself.  You’re left wondering: If I’m not [your job title], then who am I?

You are not your job.
You are not your latest performance review.
You are not your title, your salary, or how many emails you responded to before or after hours.  

You are the person beneath all of that…… the one with values, vision, curiosity, humor, and resilience.

Care deeply about the work you do.  Take pride in it.  But please… don’t let it define you.
Because when the day comes (and it will) that you step away, you deserve to feel whole, not hollow.

To anyone who’s quietly wrestling with this…… you’re not alone.  And you are more than your job.