When an Identity Has Expired

When an Identity Has Expired What happens when something you worked incredibly hard to become...isn't who you want to be anymore? In this episode of You Get What You Get: Beyond Achievement, Into Alignment, I'm talking about one of the hardest parts of reinvention for high-achieving women: recognizing when an identity has expired. For more than 20 years, I was Librarian Dawn. Then I became Yoga Dawn, investing years in training, certifications, teaching, retreats, and eventually owning my own yoga studio. I was good at those things. Really good. But being good at something doesn't mean you're required to keep doing it. Earlier this year, I was presented with an opportunity that made perfect sense on paper. I had the experience. I had the certifications. They wanted me. I even submitted the proposal. There was just one problem: I didn't want to do it anymore. That realization led me back to an idea from Gay Hendricks' The Big Leap: the difference between our zones of incompetence, competence, excellence, and genius. High-achieving women can spend years, even decades, living in a zone of excellence because we're rewarded for being there. People need us there. They know us there. And sometimes we've invested so much into becoming that woman that leaving feels almost irresponsible. But competence isn't necessarily calling. And excellence isn't always alignment. In this episode, we're talking about recognizing when an old identity has run its course, the sunk costs that can keep us attached to it, why other people's expectations can make reinvention difficult, and the awareness required to finally admit: This is who I was. It isn't who I want to be anymore. Because you don't have to hate the woman you were to become the woman you're becoming. Thank her. Take what she taught you. And allow yourself to move forward. What identity have you become really good at performing that might not fit anymore? I'd love to hear your answer in the comments. If this episode made you think of another high-achieving woman who's questioning what's next, share it with her. And be sure to follow or subscribe to You Get What You Get: Beyond Achievement, Into Alignment. 📖 Explore the book, You Get What You Get: https://dawnmrivers.com/book 🌸 Ready to explore what's next for you? Learn about 1:1 coaching: https://dawnmrivers.com/apply You get what you get because you get who you are. Dawn M. Rivers Transformational Speaker • Life Coach • Author