IDENTITY These daily practices are suggestions. Do what feels right to you. Go as far as you are capable. Remember, sometimes rest is the best practice. Oh… and you might want a journal or notebook for these practices. MONDAY 4
TUESDAY 5
Seeing
WEDNESDAY 6
Sharing
11
12
Who am I?
What am I?
THURSDAY 7
Doing 13 How am I?
Belonging 14
FRIDAY 8
SATURDAY 9
Carrying 15
Where am I? When am I?
SUNDAY 10
Listening 16
Rest 17
Why am I?
Mon 4 How do you see yourself? How do you think others see you? Tue 5 What stories do you share with other people? Think of your birth story, your dating/partner/marriage story, your family of origin story. Wed 6 What work, hobbies or activities do you practice that add to your identity? Are you a teacher, golfer, knitter, baker, cyclist, yogi, runner, reader, etc… Thu 7 Where do you belong? In what place does your identity most feel at home? Is it a bookstore, a coffeeshop, a church, a garden, your home, a
Rest
maybe even a different country? Is there a group to whom you feel you most belong? Is it an AA group, a bookclub, a bible study group, a scouting group, a fraternity or sorority, a civics or advocacy group? Fri 8 What have you survived that has marked your identity? What hardships or losses do you carry that have shaped your being? Sat 9 What voices do you listen to that have shaped your identity? Maybe your parents or friends? Maybe authors or speakers? Athletes? Politicians? Advocates? Mentors? Bosses? Influencers? TV shows? Celebrities? Podcasts? Pastors? Spiritual Leaders? What voice has played a role in how you vote? Do you feel these voices truly represent you? Or do you need to expand your listening? Sun 10 Breathe in. Breathe out. Reflect: How do you feel? Mon 11 Who are you? Make a list of 10 thing that are totally your thing and definitely define you. Then, list 10 things that are totally not your thing and could never define you. For example, books are totally my thing, but guns definitely are not. Are there things that define or don’t define you that direct your worldview, thus your political point of view? Tue 12 What are you? Make of list of your titles. Here’s some titles to help get you started: student, mother, daughter, brother, sister, writer, doctor, runner, flutist, artist, clerk, lawyer, consultant, father, pastor, influencer, truck driver, photographer, gardener, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, Witch, Astrologer, Heretic, Lord, Duchess, Duke, etc. Which of these titles influence your politics and how?
Wed 13 How are you identifying yourself? Make a list of your labels. Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sex, Sexual Orientation, and Religion are only the beginning. For example, I am Black, African-American, Cisgender, Female, Heterosexual, and Christian, but I’m also introverted, INFJ, and an Enneagram 2 who is a Leo. Do you feel your labels have any bearing on your politics? Thu 14 Where are you in the world? Write down where you were born and all the different places you have called home. Don’t just include country, state, city/town, but be sure to include the kind of home in which you lived - group home, apartment, house, hotel, shelter, campus, etc… On whose land have you lived? Find out using Native Land Digital. What were the political leanings of various places you’ve lived? Fri 15 When were you born? Find out the characteristics of your generation, your parents and your children. Here’s a helpful chart of the generations: Meet the Generations How do the attributes from your generation, the previous generation, and the next generation inform your politics? What are some common values that each generation carries? Sat 16 Why are you who you are? Make a list of all the reasons you think you are who you are. To make it plain. What are your convictions, beliefs, hopes, dreams, etc.? Do your politics support who you are? Sun 17 Breathe in. Breathe out. Reflect: How do you feel?