FaceBook memories can be great because they take us back to a point in time, or a point of view we had at a particular moment in our lives. Today’s look back took me to a post from 4 years ago – September 11, 2012, reflections from my first blog.

I hadn’t thought of this post in a long while, but it reminds me that I’ve been on a self-discovery quest for many years. My featured series: Discover What’s Next – Living Your Life on Purpose, is a way of sharing my journey and hopefully in the process bringing others along for the ride.

“Who Am I Meant to Be?”

First published on Blogger.com on 9/11/2012

Whenever I describe myself I usually use the phrase “A work in progress.”  Just when I think I’ve achieved that “ah ha” moment I reluctantly have to admit that “ah ha” what I know for sure is nothing.  If you’ve read my other 2 posts you’ll probably notice a reoccurring theme; attempting to figure out what the heck to do with this life and then how to go about achieving it. 

It took me forever to write “Best of Times Worse of Times” because of over-analyzing the process.  I need to fully understand a concept before expressing my thoughts.  My background is traditional writing – newspapers, articles, even poetry.  But blogging?  That arena felt foreign and therefore uncomfortable in my mind.  Finally, I just had to do what I did in junior high to learn how to swim. Jump into the deep end and let the struggle for survival take over.  It worked!  I guess that’s just how to approach blogging.  Jump in and have faith in my skills and my ability to pull it off. 

Okay, this might sound like it’s “off point”, but when I lived in Minneapolis, I worked for a marketing firm and reps from various magazines would often leave complimentary copies.  On one particular occasion, the rep from Oprah magazine asked if I’d like a copy and because my mother raised me right I accepted with a “thank you.”  I’m a firm believer in cosmic energy and karma and believe this particular edition of Oprah came to me as a vision quest for my life.  On the cover of the magazine in bold, 48 point font was the title “Who Are You Meant to Be?”  Well, I don’t think the Universe needed to scream much louder because I had to check it out to see if Oprah actually had a clue as to who I’m meant to be.

This edition included a quiz based on personality science.  It identifies seven “Striving Styles,” modes of thought and behavior that direct us to seek satisfaction in different ways.  The article went on to explain that although everybody is wired with all seven styles, most people have one that dominates.  The payoff for taking the quiz is to discover your striving style and use that style for the best shot at fulfilling your potential.  Now I’m definitely in!

I won’t go into all the questions but the Seven Styles are: Striving to Help, Striving to Be Recognized, Striving to Be Creative, Striving to Be Spontaneous, Striving to Be Knowledgeable, Striving to Be Secure and Striving to Be in Control.  I was sure my personality would play out as Striving to Be Creative or Spontaneous but it blew me away when my score added up to Striving to Be Knowledgeable – You are an Intellectual.  I’ve never considered myself to be an intellectual.  My husband’s the intellectual in the family for Pete’s sake!  But, as I continued to read their definition, intellectual means being incisive and curious; driven to understand how things work.

I read that article over 2 years ago and the irony is I’m still trying to figure out who I’m meant to be.  My life has taken several twists and turns since that day I pondered my place in the world.  Truth be told, who we are isn’t set in stone.  We are perpetual “Striving Styles” because our lives aren’t linear.  We are constantly adjusting our style to meet the hopes, dreams, and challenges we face along our paths.

 “Ah ha”! – I do strive to help, be recognized, be creative and spontaneous. And “Ah ha”! – I also strive to be knowledgeable, secure and in control.   Who am I meant to be?  The book is still out on that one.

Love this post! And yes, I’m still a work in progress!