The Power of Becoming: A Talk on Identity and Personal Growth

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This video is from the talk I gave at the 2022 Summit of Greatness hosted by my friend Lewis Howes. If you haven't already - make sure to check out his content on how to discover your greatness.
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You see, when I was twelve, a night-time encounter changed the trajectory of my life. I was shocked to overhear my mom and stepdad discuss sending me to a psychiatrist. As a kid in the '60s, therapy wasn't as accepted as it is today. I fought against the label of 'crazy' until the shocking revelation: maybe I was. I decided to meet it head on. If I was indeed 'crazy,' I wanted to know.
My journey into therapy was like opening a Pandora's Box. Tests said my mind was awake and asleep simultaneously, blurring reality and dreams. I was declared 'retarded,' having lived within my imaginary world, lost within my daydreams. I was an immigrant from El Salvador, facing a complex web of cultural and personal identities, trying to navigate through the choppy waters of life with an absent biological father, a globe-trotting mother, and a stepdad with a unique need for a new identity.
My name became a part of this identity tangle. Originally from a Spanish background, I walked out of a police station one day with an Irish surname, McManus. I took pride in this new identity, immersing myself into my adopted Irish culture. Then, seeking to better fit in the American context, I asked my grandfather for a new first name. From his love for World War II history, he bestowed upon me 'Erwin,' a name linked to one of Hitler's generals. Suddenly, I was a Spanish-Irish-American, wrapped in layers of complex identity.
Now, 64 years old, I am still wrestling with my identity, and let me tell you, it's okay. If there's something I want you to take away from my story, it's this: understanding who you are becoming is more important than knowing who you are. Humans aren't static; we are ever-evolving. Like a driver on a highway, we may know where we've been and where we're heading, but the present is always in motion.
Let's go further: it's less critical to know who you are than to understand what you are. Are you aware of your humanness, your potential, your capacity to grow and change? My journey with TED, with its multiple rejections and ultimate acceptance, underscored the fact that persistence can open unexpected doors. We're not defined by our past or our present. It's our pursuit, our relentless drive toward becoming, that truly defines us.
So embrace your journey of self-discovery, lean into your becoming. Your life is a vibrant, dynamic experience, not a fixed point. Celebrate your potential. Keep evolving, keep learning, and never stop growing.
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[@ValFantozzi]

Erwin you are amazing! Love every sermon and your legacy into so so many people across the 🗺 of course the music too
Keep it up 🙌🏽 😊
Val 🇦🇷

[@melanieprudhomme-leek4807]

LOL!! Thank you for bringing joy with this story

[@MHTownsend57]

@Errrrrwin that was so great 😅. Where can we see the message in its entirety?

[@BiancaBradshaw-dl9jp]

Yes please for the rest…as always this message is so timely!

[@francissolis]

Yes, can someone post the link.