Just naming myself. So, I’ve been trying to come up with a memorable name and image for a while, something that represents me, personally and professionally. The biggest challenge has been my own self-doubt. Should I wait until I finish _____ before I “name” myself? Should I be further along in my career before I write or talk about myself? Should I wait until I’m successful? Should I wait until people actually KNOW me? Until I have “followers?” In tossing around name ideas, I thought about what represents where I’m at now and where I’m heading. I was hoping for something sustainable really. I tried on “Dr. Jackie… something…something…,” but that didn’t feel right. “Dr Yoga Jackie,” nope. A lot of iterations of similar things, before finally, I landed on, “JUST JACKIE.”
Just joking around. It started as kind of a joke, but after a couple of conversations with people whose opinion I value, “Just Jackie” started sounding like just what I needed. It’s simple. It doesn’t include my roles or career aspirations. It doesn’t tell you that I’m a yoga teacher or psychologist or researcher or organizer. It doesn’t tell you much about my identity really (except my name!). And honestly, that resonates with me because I don’t identify myself by my roles or degrees.
Just overthinking the question, “Who are you?” The first time someone asked me to describe who I am, I remember listing all of my roles. At the time, I said something like “student, research assistant, daughter, sister, etc….” They said, “No, those are your roles. Who are you?” I remember feeling almost annoyed at that response, because who the heck am I if not my roles in life? I get it now though. When we identify with what we do, we risk losing who we are when that thing goes away. If we are our job, then who are we if we lose our job or retire from our job? If we are a spouse, then who are we if someone dies or divorces? We are more than our roles. WAY MORE. And it might not sound like much, but I’m just Jackie, which includes what I do as a psychologist, yoga instructor, friend, spouse, researcher, organizer, speaker, etc. More importantly though, it represents how I do those things, compassionately, honestly, imperfectly, and by being just myself. Just Jackie.
