What is identity paralysis and how to fix it is a topic for a deep dive. So grab your favorite beverage get cozy and let’s dive in. Conflicting messages bombard women constantly in today’s world, gripping us with identity paralysis. We’re told to be saints and badasses. To age gracefully, or embrace anti-aging. To fake it till we make it. Be authentic while simultaneously conforming to societies, highly patriarchal patterning.
Is it any wonder that we sometimes feel stuck? Unsure of who we truly are? Or what we’re meant to do?
Identity paralysis is illusionary and confuses one’s sense of self. Societal pressures, major life changes, or conflicting expectations often trigger this state. An insidious phenomenon that leaves us feeling lost, empty, and disconnected from our truth; our true selves.
When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
Identity Paralysis: The Double Bind for Women
Women, in particular, often find themselves caught in a double bind. We’re expected to be nurturing and compassionate, yet also assertive and ambitious. We’re told to lean in at work, but not too much because, well be seen as aggressive… Ahem…Martha Stewart– Go Martha, Go Martha… This constant push and pull can lead to a fractured sense of self, where we struggle to reconcile our various roles and identities.
So how do we fix it?
Break The Cycle
Assessing personality typing through spirituality offers limitless benefits compared to the limitations of traditional typology, from the 1940s, (Myers-Briggs) which primarily focus on behavioral traits and preferences. Contemporary and mystical spiritual typology delves deeper into the development of a meaningful and purpose filled life beyond set materialistic goals.
Spiritual Personality Typing evokes relationships between traits, and how they can expand, influence and impact who you are; from the inside out. It’s a more holistic understanding of a person’s character helping one realize that we are both logical and spirit-fed individuals.
By identifying traits and tendencies, from a spiritual POV individuals gain insights that teach them how to align their actions with their core values and beliefs. Your personality becomes an instrument of awareness as your spirit-fed self expresses itself through highly-attuned traits vs relying on egoic or conditioned responses from the past.
Key benefits To Kick Identity Paralysis To The Curb
- Divine Direction: A new way to explore personality traits. You’ll see the relationship between the logical and spiritual and how to two can bring about an expansive way of being in the world: our personality, our personal reality!
- Meaning and Purpose: Illuminates our personality preferences to reveal a deeper spiritual vocation; our contribution and how we show up in the world.
- Trait Awareness: An understanding of the beautiful relationship between traits and how these relationships insist on clarity helping to dissolve life’s illusions.
- Self-Discovery: Introduces the idea that our nonphysical self transcends our physical understanding. When we work with the Divine within, and let it lead our lives, we enjoy a limitless, co-creative, higher-mind. The Divine within helping us take inspired action.
The moment you have an instinct to act on a goal you must 5-4-3-2-1 and physically move or your brain will stop you. Mel Robbins, Host of The Mel Robbins Podcast.
Breakthrough Tips To Free Yourself from Identity Paralysis
So how do we break free from this paralysis and step confidently into our “big break moments”? Here are some strategies to help you reconnect with your authentic self:
- Embrace Self-Reflection: Take time to explore your values, passions, and goals without the influence of external expectations.
- Challenge Limiting Beliefs: Identify and question the beliefs that hold you back from embracing your true self.
- Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself as you navigate this journey of self-discovery.
- Seek Support: Surround yourself with people who encourage and uplift you.
- Take Small Steps: Start with small actions that align with your authentic self and build from there.
Journal Prompts for Self-Awareness
To help you on this journey, here are a few suggested journal prompts to explore:
- What aspects of myself do I feel most confident about?
- When do I feel most authentically “me”?
- What societal expectations do I find most challenging to navigate?
- If I could design my ideal life without any constraints, what would it look like?
- What small step can I take today to align more closely with my authentic self?
Journal Prompt: When do I feel most authentically “me”?
Hope Your Enjoyed: What Is Identity Paralysis and How To Fix It?
Remember, it’s not too much to ask to feel good and confident. Knowing who you are and what you’re meant to do is what brings meaning and purpose to your life. The journey to a meaningful life may be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. By embracing your true self and challenging societal expectations, you can break free from identity paralysis and step confidently into your big break moments.
Your identity is not fixed or predetermined? It’s a fluid, evolving aspect of who you are. Embrace the inner-journey of self-awareness, and don’t be afraid to redefine yourself as you grow and change. You are becoming who you want to be, so harness the power of your spiritual personality type to shape your identity. Build a life that truly resonates with your authentic self.
Book: Unpack Your Personality: Let Your Inner Guide Be Your Travel Guide
New here? Curious about travel personality typing? My debut book, Unpack Your Personality: Let Your Inner Guide Be Your Travel Guide, is your gateway to discovering your true self through travel. This book serves as the ultimate toolkit, introducing an exciting personality framework rooted in spirituality.
Inside, you’ll uncover how the joys of travel provide the perfect playground for self-awareness, complete with reflective questions that guide you on your journey. Explore top destinations for adventure, relaxation, and inspiration, along with practical tips for leveraging your personality preferences to create more fulfilling getaways. By harmonizing the insights of your personality with your inner guide (your higher self), you can elevate your travel experiences, embracing both worldly wonders and divine transcendence.
For me, travel has become a powerful way to embody my true self, whether I’m exploring distant lands or my own backyard. Ready to embark on this journey?
My debut book: Unpack Your Personality Let Your Inner Guide Be Your Travel Guide: Grab your copy here.
Step Into The Pages of the Book with Moi! Schedule a personalized 1:1 power hour where we explore your travel personality in detail.
Welcome, Friends… It’s Time for a New Life!
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Part of my purpose is to help you rethink how you see yourself and your business. What I now know is we don’t need more work; we need what works. Additionally, you also don’t need anyone telling you what to do!
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For career women who think they can do it all, empty nesters, newly widowed or divorced women, young mothers, and artful agers who want to carve out a new season in life. I’ve got you! Listen you’re never to old to fully embrace who you’re meant to be.
The world needs YOU—not some version of you.
Discover Spiritual Personality Typing. It’s a new personality paradigm that helps you embody your true self.
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About
Nina Zapala is the founder of the Soul’s Role in Personality Typing. She offers an emerging and mystical approach to personality typing, ideally suited for these evolving times. By integrating the soul’s role into personality typing, I provide women with a personalized roadmap to fully embody their true selves. This spiritual typology unveils a pioneering perspective, helping women not only understand and embrace their outer persona, but also connect with their deeper essence—identifying their soul’s true purpose. It’s a profound shift that empowers women to align with their highest potential and live with purpose. This isn’t just insight; it’s a life-changing journey.
Note: I’m a certified Myers-Briggs® instructor with an intuitive side and ready to introduce you to a new paradigm in personality typing supported by a spiritual understanding.
Photo Credit: Liza Summer