How Using Proper Adjectives Can Easily Drive Us to Admit Our True Identity

The problem most of us face is we’ve never have taken the time to describe ourselves to ourselves. Listen, there’s no better time than now

First, my disclaimer, I’m not a doctor. In fact, I never played one on TV and I’m not going to act like one now. What follows is my common sense approach to living the life of my dreams. I am writing so you know the possibilities for a better life. It exists when we give more thought to who we are as unique persons.

What makes me different from others? I don’t mean weird or anti-social, but unique as a person. As a retired person in my late seventies, I’ve had the time to ponder how I would describe myself to myself. So, several years ago, I sat down to discover the adjectives to put before my name, illustrating who I am.

Why use an adjective?

An adjective is a word or phrase naming a quality to describe a person or thing. An adjective describes in one comment who we are.

So, what three adjectives would you use to describe yourself?

Here are Eighteen adjectives, of the hundreds, to get you started

One of my brothers describe himself to me as, confused. Not sure I’d want that word to describe me.

This was a time of self-examination for me. I spent hours, no, days to find three adjectives. First came the words I’d like others to think of me. Yes, it was a portentous view of what I desired others to see me. Don’t be so judgmental of me. You’d do the same, be honest, wouldn’t you? I was not looking for ways to present myself to others; instead, I wanted to know the real me.

The solution

I took out a piece of paper, wrote these words. I was looking for three words that would describe me to me.

1. Richard is _____________.
2. Richard is _____________.
3. Richard is _____________.

What will be the result after sifting through hundreds of adjectives?

When we’re satisfied with who we are in our own skin, peace reigns in our souls. When we define ourselves, we know our identity, which holds us together in tough times.

The three adjectives I chose from the eighteen listed above

So, I’m sure you want to know my three words, don’t you? I’m hesitant to tell you. Why? Because these three words describe me to me. The three words do not represent what I want you to think of me, and the words are not meant to puff me up. No way, I’m normal, don’t put me on a pedestal. Pedestals tend to wobble, and I’d fall off at first wobble.

So, here goes

Words I’m satisfied with describing myself.

1. Authentic — I am what I am on Sunday as I am on Monday. Steady, no bells and whistles, no rockets, I’m reliable, that’s me.
2. Optimistic — There is a positive side of me wanting to believe whatever has me down will pass. The sun will shine another day.
3. Satisfied — Even though there is more to do in life, I’m content with what I have done. I’m at ease with the history of my life. I continue to learn from my past but not allow it to dominate my present.

These three words form the core from which I walk through life. Yes, you read right. These three words define the way I respond to challenges. I have the freedom to be myself, always. So, when someone or something comes against me, I rely on these three words to form my response.

Of course, other ways are guiding my responses. My Christian belief, the good upbringing I had, and my relationships.

What three adjectives describe you?

If you’re retired, as I am, you have reached your sixties or seventies. From this vantage point, you can look back over the landscape of many years. It’s not too late to get a better sense of who you are. This is my common-sense point of view. I’m enjoying retirement days knowing that I have a real sense of myself as myself.

Here’s a fun quiz you can take showing you what adjective best describes you.

My take away

• Knowing yourself better is a step to a more fulfilled life.
• It takes time to search for words to identify yourself
• Even though I disclosed my three adjectives, it is better to keep your terms private.
• These three words form your inner power source for addressing problems you’ll face.
• Not everyone needs to know what makes you, you.

I invite you to join me in discovering the actual person you are. I don’t know all the answers to face life’s twists and turns. But, at the very least, it’s a start. If you don’t start somewhere, you’ll end up going nowhere.

Thanks for reading to the end, it doesn’t always happen, but when it does, I’m overjoyed, Richard.

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