“Spiritual identity means we are not what we do or what people say about us.”

Henri Nouwen

Spiritual Health is about our identity.  Your spirit is the real you (the administrator – click here for a refresher).  You are not your resume.   People try to identify others by the job they do, (e.g. “That guy is a cop,” or “He’s a janitor,” or “She’s a doctor,” etc.).  Because we tag others, we also tend to tag ourselves as well, (e.g. “I’m a sales rep,” or “I’m a business owner,” or “I’m a waitress.”).

Being spiritually healthy takes work, you have to actually come to terms with who you truly are and who you want to be.  Not externally, not taking on the label others give you, not labelling yourself with your career or hobby, (e.g. “He’s a fitness buff,” or “She’s a wine connoisseur”).

Even though taking on a label based on externals is much easier, it ain’t healthy.  I remember reading about Michael Jackson during the concert prep the day before he died.  He was completely distraught that he couldn’t perform the moonwalk and dance at the level he could in his prime.  His identity was based on externals and when the external began to fade, well, you know the rest, he over medicated himself.

I’ve seen it happen many times over with retired police officers.  Their identity is the badge and gun, when those externals are gone, well, most cops, statistically die within 5 years of retirement.   Anecdotal for sure, but both Bear Bryant and Joe Paterno,  great football coaches with their identities based on the externals of being a coach, died very quickly after retiring.

Take the time to get alone and ask yourself:

“Who am I and what is my identity?”

“Who do I want be?”

“What are the internals by which I want to define myself?”

Is your identity a person of character, integrity, honor, selflessness, with a love and abundance based consciousness? Are you a person of gratitude? Are you full of life and your very presence a salve to others?

Boo Yah!