WHO Do YOU Want to BE? But, the Better Question is…
Daily Meditation 456–5/27/2023
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We steadily — and perhaps wrongly — bombard children with the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” as if they know at 6, 9, 11, or even 35 years old what they would like to do, what they’re good at, or what they’re less than good at.
But perhaps a better question is:
WHO do you want to be?
And this question is probably not suitable for a younger person, as they may not even comprehend the framing — “I want to be Jesus,” or “I want to be Dale Earnhardt,” or even “I want to be Indiana Jones.” You can see how it could be misunderstood.
But I pose the question to you, now:
WHO do YOU want to BE?
And I will certainly leave comments open, inviting you to think this question over for a day, week, month or even year to come back to answer.
When you believe you’ve got this answer, there’s a doozy of a follow-up question that is magnitudes harder to answer…
Why?
Why do you want to be wealthy?
Why do you want to be a celebrity?
Why do you want to be a woman CEO?
Why do you want to be a Chinese translator?
Why do you want to be a globetrotter?
And this question deserves deep, thoughtful answers.
Fame? “Fuck you” money? Prestige?
Be sure when you answer the “Why” to your “Who” that you actually believe it will be worth it.
Reframe it like this:
If I am 92 years old, laying on my deathbed and looking back over my near century of living, what will I wish for?
That I had worked more hours for more money?
That I had hustled for greater fame and social stature?
Or what?
You’re going to die one day.
Maybe tomorrow.
Maybe when you’re 61.
Maybe when you’re 92.
But it will happen.
Be sure when you ask “Who do I want to be?” that the “WHY” behind your answer is going to be worth your life.
So, I ask again…
Who do you want to be?
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These are distillations from my coming book “YouDaimonia: the Ancient Philosophy of Human Flourishing.”
