Authenticity is the key to true connection. When you let others get to know the real you, you create an opportunity for real relationships to blossom.
For some reason, the importance of authenticity in my in-person relationships is more obvious than it is in my online relationships.
One of the overarching goals I have for writing is building a community of like-minded people who care for each other and push each other to be their best.
But how can I do that if my audience doesn’t even know me?
I’m very conscious of the people I let into my inner circle. Ultimately, I want to build a strong circle of incredible people who are like-minded yet bring different and valuable perspectives.
And it’s important to note that even though online content creators are online, they still have the ability to greatly influence your life. That’s why their job title is ‘Influencer’.
It’s really easy to be aware of those we do and do not let into our real, physical lives. But have you considered the people you let into your real, online life?
With the plethora of voices on Medium, I want you to have the opportunity to consume from people who will make you a better person.
Surely you can get a sense of who I am from my writing, and to that I say, “Good! That’s my goal!”
But there’s only so much you can glean from the posts of authors on Medium and who they really are and how they really live their lives.
So, this post is an opportunity for you to get to know me and to determine whether or not I’m the type of creator you want to have in your online circle.
And while I can’t tell you everything about me in one post, and some things will be edited and filtered, I hope this gives you a better idea of the person behind the screen. Because ultimately, the more and better you know me, the more you’ll gain from what I write. And that’s all I could ever ask for.
#1 I’m In A Constant State of Reflection and Refinement
I spend a lot of my time in my head, thinking about who I am and how my life is going.
I’m constantly contemplating whether or not the actions I take and choices I make today are setting me up for what I envision for my future.
This has been something that has both hurt and helped me throughout my life.
Either way, being a Thinker is a deep part of my identity, and you can be sure that anything I talk or write about has been thoroughly thought about (except if you’re my therapist…then you get the raw, unfiltered thoughts).
#2 I Have A Hard Exterior but Am Gentle and Kind on the Inside
Growing up, I resented my father for the hard exterior he had around some people, because I knew that’s not who he actually was. Around new people, he always seemed very standoffish.
But around his family and closest friends, my dad is goofy, caring, loving, crazy, and thoughtful.
And now I recognize the same tendencies within myself.
I tend to have a hard exterior at first. It takes time for me to build trust and want to open up and be honest, and it’s very circumstantial.
I have no problem being completely honest about something in my life if it’s for the benefit of another person or if I know I’ll never have to see them again.
But with people whom I know will be ‘repeats’ in my life, it takes me a bit longer.
Despite the hard exterior that I may have, I am a very caring and kind person and have everyone’s best interests in mind.
#3 I Always Want To Be Learning New Things
I loved school growing up for the pure fact that I had the opportunity to learn.
I always asked questions and tried to deepen my understanding of the world around me through inquiry. For example, I asked my parents to explain to me what a mortgage was at the ripe age of five years old.
I take the 100-hour rule very seriously and try to invest at least 100 hours of learning into specific topics I’m interested in at the time.
Now that I am no longer a part of the formal education system, I’m constantly seeking out ways to educate myself beyond school.
I constantly consume YouTube videos, podcasts, and books that are education-based, and love learning about new concepts, topics, and just words in general.
#4 I’m Very Creative
I’ve always been an incredibly creative person.
When I was little, I was always crafting, painting, designing websites, sewing, drawing, dancing, singing, writing, baking, and more.
I grew up as a competitive dancer for 15 years, and I love theatre and performance.
I love creating things, even if they don’t turn out that well or if I’m not super talented at it.
I’m constantly coming up with business ideas, whether serious or goofy, and like to brainstorm and keep a list of them.
I value my creativity and went through a period of my life where it wasn’t fostered. During that time, I realized the importance of fostering your own personal creativity and what that can mean for your happiness and outlook on life.
#5 I’m Highly Emotional
I may seem emotionless at first because I strive to be a well-composed person, but I’m deeply emotional, displaying those emotions to those who are closest to me.
I struggled when I was younger at suppressing my emotions, and am just now learning how to address the emotions rather than push them to the side.
I cry when I’m frustrated, sad, happy, and stressed. I seem to have an endless supply of tears.
I’m also an extremely excitable person and can get hyped up for big and little things in life. I get super giddy when I’m happy and like to share that excitement with others.
#6 My Personality Types
I’ve taken nearly every personality type under the sun, and for those of you who know what these mean, I wanted to provide them to you to give you a different sense of who I am, rather than just telling you.
I think personality tests are fun, and it’s always interesting to see how they differ or what the similarities are between the different tests that exist.
I tend to take these things with a grain of salt, but I think that they’re beneficial in communicating with someone who is also familiar with the tests, who you are, and what you’re like.
So, without any explanation of what these tests are or what they mean (I trust you to look into that if you don’t already know), here it goes:
My Top Five Clifton Strengths:
Achiever
Learner
Developer
Activator
Competition
Enneagram: 8 (The Challenger)
HBDI: 2111
Meyers-Briggs: ENFJ (The Protagonist)
And last but not least, I’m a Virgo. However, I’m not entirely sure what that means, and I personally don't believe in astrology. Though I’m sure it’s useful for those who do.
Real Talk
I hope this gives you a better sense of who I am as a person, and now you’ll be better equipped to see that reflected in my writing.
Although I did pick and choose what to tell you about myself, these are the things that seem most prevalent to me to share, at least right now.
If you’ve read to the end, I appreciate that. I never really saw the purpose of writing an ‘About Me’ article for Medium. I just assume that people would rather read what I write than read something solely about me.
If you would like, share a fact about yourself in the comments. I think it’ll be a fun way to see who makes up this little community on Medium and the similarities and differences among us.
I hope you have a great day:)
Jade