I wish I could tell you that to get to the next level ONLY requires better skills.

It requires a whole shift in the way you see yourself as a player.

This is the essence of what we mean by an identity shift.

We don’t mean simply having a tougher mindset, although that can be part of it.

Nor do we mean simply saying your character needs to be someone who is hard working.

It’s about having the kinds of beliefs and perspectives that next-level athletes have about their entire life and the way they go about improving their game.

The Path to Self-Transformation: Unlabeling, Overcoming Limitations, and Embracing Freedom

Much of our lives revolves around labels. We apply these metaphorical tags to ourselves and others as we make our way through the social world. Our self-esteem and self-perception have deep roots in these labels. No matter how high or low your self-esteem may be, you identify as a specific kind of person who achieves certain results. You may view yourself as a high-achiever, a procrastinator, a genius, or just an average Joe. These labels wield considerable influence over our lives. They act as unseen prisons and static boundaries that often bar us from becoming the person we aspire to be or have the potential to be. So, how can we break free from these restrictive labels? The key is to undergo an identity shift.

Embracing Identity Shift and Letting Go of Labels

Identity shift entails a crucial change in how we perceive ourselves. It involves restructuring our inner narratives, transcending rigid labels, and welcoming the evolution of our identity. However, it's crucial not to let this process drive us to the other extreme where we feel compelled to scrutinize and validate every aspect of our identity.

For instance, if your current label is "I suck at hockey," a healthier reframing would be "I haven't yet discovered how to hone the skills I need to excel in this game."

The journey of identity shift is primarily a struggle with oneself. Many of us, knowingly or unknowingly, remain trapped by our self-perception. We become captives to our labels, limiting beliefs, and past experiences. Recognizing that our self-image holds significant sway over our personality and behavior is a crucial step in this journey.

Experience and Confidence in Identity Shift

In the process of identity shift, keep the following quotes in mind:

1. "The self-image is the key to human personality and human behavior. Change the self-image and you change the personality and the behavior."
2. "Our present state of self-confidence and poise is the result of what we have experienced rather than what we have learned intellectually."
3. "A human being always acts and feels and performs in accordance with what he imagines to be true about himself and his environment."

In simpler terms,

First, altering behavior requires changing our self-perception (our identity).