The Temporary You
- Michael Drake
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
What identity are you clinging to?
The responsible one.
The strong one.
The busy one.
The successful one.
The one who “always has it together.”
Here’s the honest answer most of us don’t like to admit:
At some point, that version of you kept you safe. But it may no longer be serving you.
We often confuse who we were with who we are.
And even more dangerously—with who we must remain.
But you are not a fixed character in a finished story.
You are a moment in motion.
Here’s the Truth We’re Taught to Avoid
We’re taught that consistency equals strength.
That changing your mind means you’re unreliable.
That letting go of an identity somehow diminishes your past.
But impermanence isn’t weakness.
It’s reality.
Every version of you was temporary
The child who thought adults had it figured out.
The teenager who believed feelings were facts.
The younger adult who chased approval, certainty, or safety.
Growth requires grief.
You can’t become someone new without releasing someone familiar.
Clinging to outdated labels doesn’t honor who you were.
It traps who you’re becoming.
A Quote from the Book
“You are not meant to be preserved. You are meant to be lived.”
— The Paradox of a Mortal Mind
This isn’t about erasing your past.
It’s about loosening its grip on your future.
Impermanence is not something to fear.
It’s the permission slip you didn’t know you needed.
This Week’s Action
Release one outdated label you use about yourself.
Write it down. Say it out loud if you’re brave enough.
“I’m bad at this.”
“I’m not creative.”
“I’m always the strong one.”
“I’m just not that kind of person.”
Then ask yourself:
Who would I become if I stopped introducing myself this way—internally or externally?
You don’t owe loyalty to an identity that no longer fits.
You owe honesty to the person you’re becoming.
If this whisper stirred something in you, share it with someone who might be quietly outgrowing their old self. And remember—
You are not behind.
You are not broken.
You are simply temporary and that’s where your power lives.
Subscribe to Weekly Whispers! thoughtful reflections delivered free each week.
Comments