Your brand identity is your outward expression of yourself and your personality, where people are aware and understand what’s important to you. When you live in congruence with your values, wants, and needs, you can present yourself authentically and reliably, fostering trust in your relationships.
However, suppose you’re overly influenced by others, where you continue to shape-shift or cover up. In that case, you can easily become “pigeon-holed” into a specific persona or team player role that doesn’t align with the “real you.” It’s in situations like these where you may start to feel unappreciated, causing you to close yourself off from opportunities and new experiences.
Find your middle path.
The yin and yang symbol represents harmony and balance and suggests that everything is comprised of opposing yet complementary forces. Though seemingly different, they are interconnected and part of the same fundamental whole.
Your “middle path” is located between your “yin and yang.” When you can navigate through contrasting thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, you will pinpoint your center and create balance in your system. Intellectually, you’re able to slow down, accept paradoxes, integrate emotion and logic in your decision making, and welcome what Dr. Dan Siegel calls the “plane of possibility” in his “Wheel of Awareness.”
In this uncharted space, you can shift your mindset, rewiring your brain and opening yourself up to fresh perspectives, rather than being a prisoner to one-way thinking.
Staying true to the path you choose.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Unlocking the hidden aspects of yourself to incorporate them into your brand comes from turning inward and being situationally aware.
With practice, you’ll be able to ascertain which beliefs, attitudes, and actions are supporting your efforts and which are not so that you can resolve any impeding conflicts.
Here are five things that can help you increase consistency in how you show up:
#1 Boost your self-awareness and awareness of others.
The Enneagram system states that everyone has nine archetypes within them, each to a greater or lesser degree. Yet your core type’s motivation—why you do what you do—is most dominant and serves as the main driver for how you engage and communicate with yourself and others. Your core type coupled with your “Centers of Expression”—how you act, feel, and think—and the order in which you do these things, impacts how others perceive you. When you become mindful of your innate tendencies, preferences, and how they affect people’s perceptions, you can ground yourself and recover more quickly when you find yourself out of alignment.
#2 Incorporate kindness in your self-talk.
Communicating with yourself helps you manage your activities, work through issues, and make decisions. Sometimes, it can be complex, and your “self-talk” may include opposing opinions, emotions, or sensations that impact how you view yourself and influence your choices. By understanding these facets from multiple angles—what they are and why they exist—you can determine what’s working or what may need adjustment for your well-being and your brand. Fostering an inner connection provides you with the space to catch your breath, attain clarity, sync inner and outer worlds, and replenish your energy. Providing yourself grace can allow you to accept what is, shake off negative vibes, cultivate confidence, and be at peace with your choices.
#3 Practice the “art of pivoting” in the moment.
Managing your emotions while being aware of the energy and vibe in your environment are proficiencies you can cultivate to handle unexpected and high-stress situations. Dr. Reuven Bar-On, whose research resulted in the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) assessment, defined emotional intelligence as: “An array of non-cognitive capabilities, competencies, and skills that influence one’s ability to succeed in coping with environmental demands and pressures.” When you understand how you use your emotional intelligence, you can learn how to pivot in the moment to demonstrate your leadership acumen and elevate your executive presence to make the most impact.
#4 Include an optimistic outlook.
Integrating “positive expectations” into your brand empowers you to look toward the future with hope and the belief that desired outcomes are attainable. From an emotional intelligence standpoint, optimism carries positive energy that enables you to tap into a higher expression and push forward when facing an obstacle. Actively seeking solutions to problems and taking action can help you work through issues, such as letting go or reframing limiting beliefs that may be holding you back. Focusing on what you want to become and incorporating language, such as “I am [fill in blank] and I’m not [fill in blank],” can help you experience things differently. Likewise, you can expand your vantage point with “What If” visioning.
#5 Reclaim your authority.
A clear view of the past, present, and future empowers you to acknowledge, accept, heal, and transform what no longer serves you, thus embracing your best self, who you are at your core. Additionally, knowing how you feel, what you want to feel, and what you want and need, as well as answering the questions, “What’s holding me back?” and “What would help me progress?” can assist you in determining simple steps to take for profound change. Additionally, developing the capacity to “say no kindly,” making time for self-care rituals, and prioritizing what’s important can inspire and propel you forward.
Taking a close look at yourself takes guts.
When you allow yourself space to go deep within, you can tap into your internal wisdom and gain clarity. With this insight, you can strategize and reprioritize where you want to invest your efforts and adjust your personal narrative and brand strategy to support your vision, mission, and goals.
Activate your best with those around you.
Self-leadership is about getting to know yourself better and applying that knowledge to how you interact with others. As a lifelong student, certified professional coach, and consultant, activating the best in others through self-leadership, interpersonal relations, and team dynamics are passions of mine. My approach is personalized and customized, tapping into various assessments, disciplines, modalities, and techniques. Also, check out my “Micro & Mini Service Offerings” and try one session to inspire you. Sign up solo or with another person or group to work on a specific exercise or activity and split the costs! Contact me to get started.