Have you ever discovered a new part of you, a brand new identity, that is both surprising and thrilling?
You may know me as an executive coach, a former corporate executive, a hard-working immigrant, a daughter, wife, and a mom, but today I’d like to announce a brand new identify I have just discovered for myself - I am a good COOK!
All my life, I told myself and others, “I am not a cook.”
I “reasoned” it, because my mom was not a good cook when I was growing up, and I didn’t have the Chinese cooking crash course that I “should have had” before I came to the U.S.
So, in my perfectionistic subconscious mind, “if am not a cook, then why bother?” That identify of “I am not a cook” enslaved me.
During the China trip to visit my family over the recent Christmas holiday, I was inspired by my sister-in-law’s cooking, and a friend introduced me to a fantastic App with short Chinese cooking instructional videos (I never liked written recipes). After I cam back, I practiced cooking on the weekends and I felt encouraged by the fact that I was able to cook a few dishes!
Few weeks ago, I decided to host a Chinese New Year dinner with a few friends - who I thought wouldn’t be offended if my cooking completely failed and we had to trigger my husband’s backup plan of ordering pizza.
Guess what?!
I cooked TEN Chinese dishes! They all turned out well (except the undercooked rice and my sliced left thumb), and one friend even said this was the best Chinese food he ever had! Even if he was lying, I will take it!
Check out the 10 dishes below! (The steamed eggs dish was still on the stove - that was #10.)
Now that I have discovered, actually adopted, a new belief and a new identity about myself, it is a new day!
Something that seemed impossible transformed completely, over one evening.
Because I chose to.
I can’t help but be curious, in what other ways might I be limiting myself because of my beliefs and identity?
When I listen to my coaching clients, I hear assumptions and beliefs, “I am not a people person,” “I am not good at managing up,” “I can’t change it,” “this is who I am,” etc.
Working together, they realize those are just limiting beliefs, and they CAN change their behaviors by adopting a new belief, a new identify.
Then, life is never the same again. It becomes better, richer, and more liberating.
What is one new belief that you can adopt that will change your life?
