Here’s the thing: we aren’t just on a journey—we are the journey. While we do exist beyond the borders of temporal, time-bound dimensions, as humans, we cannot fully separate ourselves from our experiences. Our journey defines us so deeply that the two become synonymous.
I am a Mother. That identity was undeniably shaped by my experiences. I am a Celtic Mystic, reflecting where I am on my spiritual path. I am a Writer. I am a Woman. I am a Craftsman. I am a Lover of Nature. I am strong. I am creative. All of these facets of my identity have been forged through experience.
Try it. Pick any fragment of your identity and trace where it originated. If it wasn’t shaped by your experience, let me know, because I haven’t found one yet. I’d be fascinated to discuss your discovery—though I admit, I’d be a bit skeptical. For instance, I wouldn’t claim that being a pilot is part of my identity when I’ve never sat in a cockpit. Identity is born from profound familiarity—through lived experience.
You are your journey.
This realization feels empowering. While the abstract question of "Who am I?" can be elusive, acknowledging that we are formed by our journey means we have the power to shape our experiences—and, in turn, ourselves and our identity.
This forms a feedback loop. We must be mindful of how we define ourselves, as we continuously affirm our identity through conscious and subconscious choices. What we believe ourselves to be, we often continue to embody. There’s a fine line between acknowledging traits and embracing them as core identity. When I once identified too closely with my depression, I found myself unintentionally perpetuating it.
So while I’ve recently discovered that I likely have some degree of ADHD, I’m careful to keep it as a trait I possess, not something I am. I won’t ignore it—understanding how I engage with my environment is crucial—but I’d rather affirm that I am Adaptable. I choose to believe that I can learn to navigate my distractible tendencies and build systems to support my lovely neurodivergent brain. That belief will serve me far better than leaning into the identity of someone who struggles with attention regulation.
Our experience shapes our identity, and in turn, our identity influences our experience. With intention and effort, we can influence our journey at either point—by choosing how we think of ourselves or by making decisions that guide our experience.
The second reason I love the idea of "I am the Journey" is that it fully embraces the dynamic nature of our identity. We can’t definitively answer the question, “Who am I?” any more than we can nail down a gust of wind. Who I was is not who I am. Who I am is not who I will be.
There are threads of continuity, of course—we aren’t beings of pure chaos (usually)—but we are ever-evolving entities, encountering each new day for the first time. The version of you that exists in this moment has never existed before, and this you, right now, gets to choose the next step, the next experience, the next evolution of your identity.
You are the journey.
Comments