Anyone else feel like you’re constantly on a hamster wheel running from one thing to the next thing to the next thing and the next? We’re working, we’re fulfilling social engagements, we’re enrolling in classes to better ourselves, we’re volunteering, we’re up in the gym just working on our fitness. . . on and on and on right? Take a minute to just think of all the things, organizations, people, etc. you’re involved with and influencing each and every day.

It’s a lot right?

So easily we fall into the trap of thinking and feeling our life is defined by the “things” or the work we do. We understand ourselves to be who we are because of our profession, the gym we attend, the food we eat, or the extracurriculars we participate in.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with reverencing ourselves for the value we bring into the world through our roles in these positions and truly, it’s important that we understand the influence the “things” we do have on our lives. But in the long run, understanding our value and the importance we carry outside of our jobs is most important.

I certainly have a much different perspective on life because of my career so far in the Air Force than I would if I wasn’t in the military, but the Air Force, by no means defines who I am. Just as my yoga class doesn’t define me, neither do the hikes I take or the courses I enroll in.

Life isn’t about the “things” we do.

Life isn’t about just your job. Life isn’t about your salary, or the challenges or triumphs you face. It isn’t about the push-up or the downward dog you can’t quite nail. It isn’t about how many sales you made or how many friends you have. Life isn’t about any of those things, it’s about who we are when we’re working that 9 to 5, when we’re doing the push-up or when we’re encouraging that friend. It’s about who we are when we’re sitting in traffic, when we have a sick child or who we are when we’re faced with the biggest obstacle or challenge we’ve ever seen.

Getting bogged down in the things we’re doing is so simple and I’m sure we can all relate to that feeling. Sometimes I find myself in the middle of something and the thought of “what am I doing here, again?” hits me like a ton of bricks. Sadly, there are more times than I’d like to admit that I’m doing the “thing” fore the sole purpose of having a “thing” to do and frankly because that’s always the “thing” I’ve been doing. (How silly does that sound?!?!? . . . but can you relate?) I can’t really tell you why I’m doing the “thing” other than because, “It’s what I do” and sometimes my next thought is. . . “It’s who I am.” Without a sound why, I tend to get a little lost in the day-to-day and I just end up going through the motions thinking that those “things” I’m doing define who I am.

Sound familiar?

The next time you’re not sure of your why or you feel defined by the “things” on your to do list remember you are not who you are because of those “things.” You are defined by who you are when you show up to work, your child’s soccer game, or how you handle a difficult situation with your spouse. Remember it isn’t about the fight, it isn’t about the disagreement, it isn’t about the push-up, the traffic, the hike, or the group you’re volunteering with.