Childhood (5)

In what ways did your childhood environment help shape who you are today?

Being genuine and faking it (5)

What are some examples where you might be "faking it" more than necessary — where there might be room for more of your genuine self?  Tip: If you can't come up with examples for yourself, think about times when you've noticed other people putting in excessive or unnecessary effort to cover up their real selves.

Being genuine and faking it (3)

Have you ever used a fake ID, claimed fake credentials, or misrepresented who you were, in order to gain access to something?

Being genuine and faking it (1)

Just as some shoes fit us perfectly and some fit poorly, there are parts of our lives that perfectly suit our temperament and other parts of our lives that don't seem to match who we are.  What's one place where you feel that you fit in perfectly? And what's one place where you don't exactly feel free to be yourself? 

People and animals (5)

Animal opinion time! Answer quickly, without stopping to think: (1) What's your favorite animal? (2) What animal has qualities or strengths that you particularly admire? (3) What animal represents qualities in yourself that you dislike and are trying to overcome? (4) What animal looks great in photos? (5) What animal scares you the most?

Family album (4)

What legendary crisis did your family weather before you arrived?

Tell us a story: out of character

In the United States, this Wednesday is Halloween, a day when children dress up as their favorite fictional characters. Tell us a story about a time when you enjoyed pretending to be someone other than yourself.  Who did you pretend to be?  And what were you able to do differently in your alternate persona?

Your belongings (5)

What do your possessions say about you? Which of them say that you are smart and practical? Which say that you are fun and playful? Which say that you have a unique sense of style?

Tell us a story: namesake

Is there a story behind your given (first) name? Were you named for a relative? For someone famous? Someone your parents admired? If you don't have a true story about your name, tell us a fictional one about how you might have gotten it.

Your living space (1)

Every home has its own distinct personality. What is your home like?  How well does your home suit you?  Does your home line up with your personal style and values?  Does it support you in being who you want to be?

Your adolescent self

Think about who you were as an adolescent. What are the biggest changes in your identity and personality between then and now? 

This week's theme is adolescence.

Adolescence

When you think about your adolescent years and the world that you found yourself in, what are the biggest differences between that environment and the environment you live in today?  What words would you pick to describe the character or flavor of the world around you in your teenage years?

This week's theme is adolescence.

Another reason it's good to have friends

Sometime it takes a friend to bring out aspects of yourself that would otherwise remain forgotten.  Who are the people who have a knack for awakening the better and more interesting side of your personality?  Who is someone no longer in your life, someone you're sorry is gone because you miss who you were with that person around?

This week's theme is your forgotten side.

Your forgotten side

We all have hidden potential — invisible aspects of ourselves that lie dormant. Your forgotten capabilities can suddenly blossom when you come to a place or a relationship where they are made welcome.  What examples can you think of in your own life?  Do you know a language that no one around you speaks?  Is there a game you would want to play if only you had friends who were interested? 

This week's theme is your forgotten side.

Faking it

When do you have to pretend to be someone or something that you aren't?

Public and private

Some enthusiasms are very public, as demonstrated by a cheering crowd at a sports event. Other enthusiasms might be fairly private, such as keeping up with a favorite novelist. In your life, which of these patterns is more common?  And which do you feel more attached to: the things that bond you to a crowd of people, or your own personal obsessions?

This week's theme is the things you love.

Looking all the way back

What comes naturally and effortlessly to you now, but only because you spent years learning, practicing, and repeating it?  Though this skill is now part of who you are, can you remember what it was like, years ago, being an awkward beginner at it?

This week's theme is your natural self.

It runs in the family

What is it that shapes your natural self? One important factor is the genes you inherited from your parents and ancestors. What are some obvious physical traits that you have in common with one or both parents? And what are some not-quite-so-obvious personality traits, habits, or tendencies that might also be the result of your genes?

This week's theme is your natural self.

If the shoe doesn't fit

It's risky to force yourself to carry on in shoes that don't fit. You can hurt your feet, your knees, even your back.  What thing in your life feels almost like an ill-fitting shoe?  What are the goals or circumstances that force you to twist yourself into unnatural and uncomfortable shapes?

This week's theme is your natural self.

Your natural self

When or where do you find yourself easily and naturally fitting into the flow of things?  What are the times and places where simply being yourself seems to work out well?

This week's theme is your natural self.