Identity as a Protective Factor in WorkPlace Mental Health

From the desk of This Beautiful Soul-

As a beautiful soul, I had to experience a lot before I realized the importance of identity, your sense of self. Some jobs require us to do multiple tasks, play multiple roles, and do it all successfully. The wear and tear on our minds, bodies, and minds is not always obvious until there is a medical issue, until we start not wanting to go to work, until we wake up crying for no reason. My takeaway from my life and working with others is, Don’t be afraid to set boundaries. You don’t have to play all the roles or do all the tasks. Delegation is a wonderful way to ensure you are not doing it all. The first thing to do is to define your identity. As an overachiever, I didn’t mind doing it all because I could. This attitude drained me. In reality, I couldn’t. One day, I was asked the question, stripped of everything: titles, roles, relationships, employment, etc. What one word would sum you up? I immediately recognized my word. Repairer. I tend to repair. I tend to repair things that should not be repaired, and I have spent the past year and a half fixing a broken item that no one realized was broken. That one word that defines me also helped me set boundaries and stop allowing others to define me. It also stopped me from worrying about what others thought about me. It no longer matters. How they defined me no longer matters. My anxiety started to go down. I let the word lead me into areas where I could excel. I realized that not everything should be repaired. That realization was important. I no longer sought to fix things, including my work relationships. My sense of identity strengthened my sense of self. It impacted my decision-making. I was making decisions about things without my heart. These decisions were easier to make, but also came from a place that I could defend.

Your sense of identity can become a great weapon against the effects the workplace can have on your mental health. Before you scream, holler, or cry, find your identity. Use the method I used. Take the time to define yourself instead of allowing others to define you.

Thank you for reading this tip from the desk of this beautiful soul.

Dr. Teah L. Moore, PhD, LPCC-S, LPC, NCC