Fresh Start Monday #049: The hardest part of letting go of an identity

Last week, I talked about bringing awareness to an old identity.

The remainder of that week illustrated why it's so hard to let go of an old version of ourselves when our environment and peers reinforce that identity.

Using the same example, I wanted to let go of being a photographer.

Over the past several months, I've built a local company that takes dogs on off-leash dog hikes. It's become a great combo of making some money, keeping my time flexible, and moving my body more.

I send pictures to the dog owners after the hike as part of that service. A repeat client texted me afterward:

"Have you ever considered doing pet photography? You basically have a lot of experience already. My dad is a professional photographer and I've taken courses on photography, videography, and graphic design and honestly the photos you take of Oslo are very good. I can tell you have previous photography experience."

Last week, I said I had let go of photography. That text reignited my passion. I dove into pet photography, what the market is, the going rates, and what lenses people use.

The exciting part was that I already had all the gear, I already tested the market, and I already had an existing client base to upsell.

Doesn't it make a lot of sense for me to pursue it?

When you're trying to transition into a new part of your life or career, life always seems to set a trap. If you fall for the trap, you fall back to your old ways.

In the example above, my photography received validation and I was hooked for a week.

Another old identity that came up in the journaling workshop last week was "traveler". And the temptation to book a flight/trip. Some other juicy ones for me were "independent" and "athlete".

Journal prompts

What continues to pull you back to an old self?

People and environment are probably the most common.

If people, what are the words or phrases they're saying to you?

Keep in mind that they could be words or phrases that nobody "actually" says to you anymore. But they did when you were younger.

If it's the environment, how is it influencing your actions?