Who Are You, Really?
- Jun 21
- 3 min read
By DK Hillard
It’s not a question most of us ask ourselves often. Instead, we tend to define ourselves by what we do—our jobs, roles, and achievements—as if they could capture who we are. But the truth doesn’t live there.
Who we are isn’t defined by our circumstances, titles, relationship status, or external markers. The essence of who we are can’t be named or explained. Words describe, frame, and inspire, but they fall short of capturing the soul. To truly know who we are, we must look inside, beyond the narratives, and listen for the pulse of truth deep within. The truth is not to be defined, but to be felt.
The world offers countless identities: roles to play, boxes to check, masks to wear. From childhood, we’re handed scripts on what it means to be successful, lovable, or good. We shape ourselves to fit those expectations, often mistaking survival for authenticity.
But beneath all of that, beneath the conditioning, there’s something untouched. Something ancient, wordless. A presence that exists not because of what we do, but because we are. This presence doesn’t need validation or explanation. It’s the stillness beneath the storm, the steady flame behind the performance. And while it may go unnoticed, it’s always there, waiting patiently for us to remember.
Returning to that essence requires courage—not loud or dramatic courage, but quiet, steady bravery. It’s the willingness to peel back layers, and feel lost before feeling whole. It means letting go of who we think we should be to make space for who we truly are.
This journey isn’t linear. There will be times when we forget, slipping back into old roles and identities. The truth of who we are isn’t going anywhere. It’s not something we earn—it’s something we remember.
How do we reconnect with something we can’t see, touch, or name? It starts with a journey inward—a sacred pause, a breath between the doing. If we stay long enough, we might begin to “see” ourselves.
This isn’t about self-improvement, rather self-remembrance. We’re not here to become someone else; we’re here to remember who we already are beneath the fear, stories, and striving. Every unraveling, loss, and moment of disorientation invites us closer to what’s real. And what’s real is a soft whisper, the part of you that remains when everything else falls away.
When we touch that place, even for a moment, something shifts. We stop striving to be enough because we remember—we already are. There’s nothing to prove, no role to play, no box to fit into. Just the steady truth of being.
Our bodies, too, are sacred instruments—wise, intuitive, and deeply attuned to the rhythms of our soul. Long before we name what we’re feeling, our body knows. It carries the imprints of our experiences—our longings, grief, and joy. It speaks in sensation, and the subtle language of presence. If we’re willing to listen, it will guide us home.
When words fall short—when we can’t think our way to clarity—it’s the body that shows us the way. A tightening in the chest. A softening in the belly.
A welling of tears. These aren’t just reactions; they’re invitations. Sacred signals from the deeper self, saying, "This matters." "This is true." "This is you."
I offer a unique way to connect with and anchor your truth, a Soul Portrait. The process invites you to remember who you are beyond the labels, roles, and stories. If you're ready to see and feel your deepest self, a Soul Portrait can guide you there. Contact me to begin the process.
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