Does Knowing Who You Are Affect What You Do and How You Do It?

The chorus of Who Are You, written by Pete Townshend and performed by The Who, is not only the signature song of CSI: Las Vegas but also one of the most recognized themes in modern television. Ironically, the question posed in that song has plagued humanity for millennia. It has been the topic of countless discussions, writings, and books by many noted psychologists, humanist thinkers, and philosophers. The centuries-old axiom of “finding oneself” is a testament to the enduring enigma of identity.

So, Who Are You? Do You Really Want to Know?

If so, you only need to look at the first page of the Hebrew Bible, what we call the Old Testament, where the creation story is laid out. There, in simple language, we discover that we are uniquely created beings formed in the image of God, the Creator. Many philosophers, psychologists, and supposed “smart people” through the ages seem to have missed this key fact. Instead, they have proposed ideas suggesting that we are somehow self-originated, with identities shaped relative to one another or based on how we feel on any given day.

Such transient thinking serves only to cause confusion and retard our development as special beings—beings whom God labeled as “totally awesome” (my interpretation of the Hebrew phrase translated as “very good!”). Our identity is inherent, not fluid or dependent on the opinions of other fallible individuals who, more often than not, put others down to artificially boost their own self-esteem. Our omnipotent God has made each of us with the inherent potential for greatness—if only we believe Him instead of the adversarial voices that claim otherwise.

A Better Way to See Yourself

I would suggest that if we all believed we are loved and valued by God, we would aspire to be better and to live up to what God intended us to be. This belief could transform us into better people, spouses, parents, leaders, workers, friends, neighbours, and overall stewards of the gift of life.

If you feel the need to “find yourself,” perhaps you are looking in the wrong places. Who you are isn’t determined by comparisons to others. Your true identity is in God alone. By His grace and guidance, you have all you need to become what He created you to be. Knowing that you bear the image of God can motivate you to strive for excellence in all things because that is who you are and what you were created to do—if you only will.