Self-Identity Checklist

Self-identity is an important part of your self-esteem. If you know who you are, you can organize your life more effectively to focus on doing things that make you happy and avoiding things that don't make you happy. To define yourself, you need to go through a checklist and determine what kind of person you are. Remember, though, that you, like all people, are complex so you shouldn't pigeonhole yourself. Rather, you should define yourself from a variety of different angles.

Unique Qualities

• The first section of a self-identity checklist is your set of unique qualities. What makes you different from other people? When you meet new people, what do they remember about you when asked? Are you funny, insightful, dramatic or a combination of these? Alternatively, are you unique in different ways? Your self-identity is based on what makes you a memorable, individual person so you need to focus on your unique traits.

Values

• Your values make a key component of your self-identity because they determine how you react to things and also help guide your decision-making process. So think about a few values you hold dear. Are you a recycling fanatic, or do you blithely toss a can into the trash? Do you spend hours looking for a piece of vintage clothing or do you prefer to buy clothes online? These indicate your values -- your values as to how you spend your time, where you devote your energy and what you choose to care about. These values frame your identity by guiding your choices.

Career

• Your career (or job) is a key part of your self-definition because most people spend 40 hours a week at work. This is an enormous part of your life, so, like it or not, your job plays a role in defining who you are. Are you in a job you enjoy? What field are you in? Do you have a job at all? Many people do not have jobs, and the lack of a job is just as relevant as a specific job. A person on welfare, for example, has a different identity than someone who chooses to stay home and look after his children. So, this is more a matter of defining yourself by how you spend your days rather than your job itself.

Goals

• Your identity is also partly defined by your goals. Where do you see yourself in five years? What steps are you taking to get there? Do you have goals at all? Some people have their entire lives planned out from the minute they reach the age of understanding, while other people simply take things one day at a time. Neither of these is necessarily better than the other, but they are unique points of view that define you as a person. So, part of your identity is not really who you are, but what you see yourself becoming.