In the traditional Name Game, players are divided into teams and instructed to guess the names written on slips of paper using facial expressions, clues, or charades. The object is to see who can guess the most names.
In this version, played solo, what would you call yourself if you were a:
- Hip hop singer
- Actor
- Author
- Spy
What name best expresses your:
- Spiritual Self
- Sexy Self
- Secret Self
- Social Self
Which of these is closest to the real you? If you changed your name today, what would you choose?
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet.” This quote from Romeo and Juliet intimates that what matters is what something is, not what it is called.
The truth is what something/someone is, is constantly changing. You have the ability and the right to choose what’s best for you NOW – regardless of what you decided ten years ago, last year, or even yesterday. Changing your mind is not being irresponsible, it’s just the opposite. I remember always hearing, “When you know better, you should do better.” So when you honor what spirit is telling you, when you get the lessons from your previous experiences, when you are making conscientious decisions – doing better might mean changing your mind.
Reinvention begins with gaining clarity about who you are and who you want to become. Pay attention to what makes you feel energized, connected, and stoked – what’s your jam! Find a quiet spot and ask yourself these questions, what’s working in my life and what isn’t? What do I want to be doing? What do I need to change in my life to get where I want to be? What two or three steps can I take now to move in that direction?
Don’t worry if you can’t answer all of the questions right now. Everyone has moments of not knowing and that’s okay. When you don’t have the answers, you’re more open to the questions. Every day passion speaks to us through our feelings. Oprah once said, “If you don’t know what your passion is, realize that one reason for your existence on Earth is to find it.” Identify your values (not necessarily your priorities as these change on any given day, but your values are more constant) and allow them to drive your choices. Choosing between various paths and alternatives based on your internal compass will generate fulfillment that comes from living life in alignment with your ideas and principles.
Real success is about creating a life of meaning that fulfills your reason for being here. As you become more clear about who you really are and who you want to become, you’ll be better able to invent, reinvent or name that person!
