How To Create Yourself

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." — Bernard Shaw. Especially at an early age, we often try to find meaning in our lives. But it's about creating that meaning by:

5/25/20254 min read

How to Create Yourself

“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” — George Bernard Shaw

Especially in our early years, we’re often told to “find our purpose” or “discover our passion.” But what if those things aren’t lying in wait somewhere out there? What if they’re made, not found?

The truth is, you create your identity by what you do every day. You shape your values, your beliefs, and your path by what you choose to pursue. You build yourself through effort, experimentation, and growth.

Here’s how to start creating you.

1. Try New Things, Gain New Experiences

Growth begins at the edge of your comfort zone. Trying new things—whether it's learning to cook, traveling to a new place, or picking up a new sport—challenges your mind and body. It breaks routine and opens your eyes to new perspectives.

Each new experience adds a new layer to your identity. The more you explore, the more you understand about what you like, what you value, and where your strengths lie.

2. Feed Your Brain With Good Information

Your thoughts are shaped by what you consume. If you're constantly absorbing negativity, shallow content, or toxic perspectives, your thinking will reflect that. On the flip side, if you feed your mind with high-quality information, inspiring stories, and thoughtful discussions, you begin to think differently—more clearly, more creatively, and more constructively.

Make time every day to nourish your brain. Whether it’s through podcasts, audiobooks, online courses, or thoughtful conversations—what you put in is what you'll get out.

3. Read Good Books and Listen to Uplifting People

Books are one of the greatest tools for self-creation. They allow you to enter the minds of the smartest, most thoughtful people in history. They expose you to ideas you might never have considered. They give you language for what you feel but haven’t yet articulated.

Surrounding yourself with uplifting, motivated people matters just as much. Positivity is contagious. Spend time with those who inspire you, challenge you, and help you grow.

4. Think Deeply About Important Ideas

In a noisy world, deep thinking is rare—and valuable. Set aside time to reflect on your values, your goals, and the kind of person you want to become. Journaling, meditating, or even long walks in silence can help you uncover your core beliefs and make intentional decisions.

You don’t become yourself by accident. You become yourself by making thoughtful choices over and over again.

5. Learn New Skills

Whether it’s learning to code, cook, paint, lead a team, or speak a new language, each skill you acquire gives you more options in life. Skills create confidence and open doors. They make you more capable—and more interesting.

Choose skills that excite you, scare you a little, or align with the version of yourself you want to become. Then dive in with curiosity and patience.

7. Exercise and Eat Well

Your body is the foundation of your experience in the world. Treating it with care—through regular exercise, good sleep, and healthy eating—gives you the energy, strength, and mental clarity to do everything else on this list.

A healthy body supports a healthy mind. And a strong, energized mind can build the life you want.

8. Set Goals and Work Toward Them

Goals give your actions direction. They push you to improve and remind you what you’re working for.

Start with small, realistic goals. Track your progress. Celebrate your wins. And when you’re ready, stretch further. The habit of setting and achieving goals teaches you discipline, patience, and the power of consistent effort.

9. Build Strong Relationships

Success and happiness mean little without meaningful relationships. Invest in your family, friends, and loved ones. Be present. Communicate openly. Support others and allow them to support you.

Your connections help shape your identity. You learn through relationships—about trust, love, vulnerability, and growth.

10. Take Responsibility and Find Meaning in Your Work

Taking ownership of your choices is powerful. When you stop blaming others or waiting for luck to strike, you begin to see how much control you actually have.

Find purpose in your work—even if it’s not your dream job yet. Bring your best self to every task. Be reliable, creative, and generous. Over time, this mindset will change how you see your job and how others see you.

11. Grow in Every Area That Matters

Many people focus only on improving one part of life—like career or fitness—while neglecting others like relationships or mental health. But creating yourself means becoming whole.

Try to make small improvements in every area: physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. Even a 1% improvement every week adds up to a dramatically different life in a few years.

Don’t rush. Just keep moving forward.

Enjoy the Journey

Remember: the version of yourself you’re creating today might not be the same person you’ll want to be five years from now. And that’s okay. As you gain new experiences, skills, and perspectives, your values will evolve. Your goals will shift. Your definition of success will change.

That’s part of the beauty of creating yourself—you’re never finished.

So be patient with yourself. Celebrate your growth. And most importantly, enjoy the process. You’re not a problem to be solved. You’re a project to be built—with intention, with care, and with love.