What Happens When You Try to Be Someone Else

Have you ever found yourself trying to imitate another person—perhaps their lifestyle, their talents, or even their personality? While it may seem harmless at first, living in someone else’s shadow causes a loss of sight of one’s true self. Identity refers to the qualities, characteristics, beliefs, values, personality traits, and expressions that make a person who they are. It is what distinguishes one individual from another and gives a sense of self and belonging. Identity answers the question: “Who am I?” Getting to know one’s distinguishing character is a progressive journey attained through a gradual process of consciousness and intentionality of self-discovery.

When you neglect your own identity, three things often happen:

1. You Lose Focus

When you try to become someone else, your attention shifts away from your own purpose, goals and true self. Instead of building on your strengths, you chase after qualities that may not align with what you are designed for (imagine a motorcycle wanting to do what a power bike is designed for). This leads to distraction and confusion about your path in life.

When this happens, you lose focus on who you are and become inferior to yourself when you cannot attain the level of whoever you are copying. Also, you lose focus on what God is capable of doing in and through your life because you would have used your model as your benchmark for possibilities.

2.You Become Frustrated

Living outside of your true self is exhausting. You begin to feel like you’re constantly falling short because you are striving to achieve something that was never designed for you. Truth be told, no one can be exactly like another, even identical twins are not totally the same; hence, inability to be exactly like who you are copying frustrates you and ends up preying on your emotional sanity. This frustration can affect your confidence, relationships, and even your belief in yourself.

Frustration from wanting to be like someone else, if not attended to in time, can cause depression and even cost a life. This is too costly for anyone to bear; it is then better to be who you are designed to be by God, your creator.

3. You Fail to Honour God
Every person is created with a unique identity, gifts, and purpose. This speaks to the great investment God has made in everyone, which he desired to bring dividends to his kingdom as we live purposefully. When you reject who you are to imitate someone else, you indirectly reject the very design God placed within you, which is meant for a specific purpose. Failing to embrace your authentic self means you are not fully walking in the calling and potential God intended for you.

Failing God in this regard can cause God to withdraw certain resources from you because He only supplies resources to those who live out his design for their life, not those trying to be someone else. When this happens, it takes the frustration to a higher level in such lives.

The Power of Knowing Your Identity

Understanding your identity is not just about self-awareness; it’s about living in consciousness and alignment with your divine purpose. Living with your identity in view does not make you of less importance to someone else around you, but rather makes you a unique version of yourself. When you embrace your individuality:

• You walk with clarity and confidence.
  Nothing substantiates confidence and boldness like knowing your identity. Discovery of identity and living in this consciousness defines who you are, and it also guides you against being trapped in the web of an inferiority complex.
• You find fulfilment in living authentically.
  There is a special grace that comes upon you when you discover your identity. This grace empowers your unique traits, beliefs, qualities, and characteristics to be used to make a difference around you, impacting others.
• You bring glory to God by using the gifts He has uniquely entrusted to you.
  God has invested unique qualities, traits and characteristics in every individual for a specific purpose, and it will gladden God’s heart if everyone could live out the full potential of

Conclusion 

Stop comparing yourself to others. Stop measuring your worth against someone else’s achievements. Instead, choose to discover who you are, nurture your gifts, and live boldly in your identity. You were not created to be a copy—you were created to be original.

Living authentically is not just a personal victory; it’s an act of honouring God.

Samson Onifade
Purpose Coach