What defines you as a person?

[Bongza]

I have noticed that some people are defined by material things and they also worship the things that they have as if they are more powerful, so great people what defines you as a person?

[Steve Boyd]

>> What defines you as a person?

To me this implies how do I look from someone else's point of view.

I really couldn't care less what other people think. This is a good character trait to have apparently :-)

I know what things make me happy so I concentrate on those.

[Matthew Cluff]

I think in the interconnected world we live in today, I believe a person is defined by the amount of influence they have on other individuals. Also, what their reputation is like in their own eyes and those of others is a great contributing factor as well.

[MOTHER]

I am defined by my avatar, "Mother"
..Is isn't my career...it is who I AM.

I encourage, i hug, i mentor...
...and although i have a complete successful career which brings me many joys...it is not who i AM.

It took me years to figure it out, and having kids of my own helped me see
that I have always "mothered"
Always will

I think back on all the class clowns i have known...and i think
whatever they do now for a job is irrelevant to their joy...
They are "Jesters"...and fullfill their joy of being, by sticking with their natural
calling...to make people laugh

Carolyn Myss is a good read in finding your calling, but i knew this before i ever picked up her book...
here's a break-down of interesting types:
Myss Library | Sacred Contracts | A Gallery of Archetypes
I haven't looked at it in ages, so i'm not sure there even is a "Mother"? i will have to re-visit it

[Orator]

What defines me is my points of view on life and my behaviors and manners. My dreams and aspirations and my course of life.

My connection with the world and my beliefs and studies all chip in what makes me as a person.

There are many aspects and peripheries and circumstances that contribute to what I am. I maybe what I appear to the people I am in company. Or how others look to me as a person. My goal and endeavors to reach that end too define me as a person. I have a story of success and failure and not only my story of success but also my myriad failures contribute to the person I am

[ZephyrusX]

My environment and psychological landscape, both of which are fluid concepts. I don't like the idea of defining my self by static qualities or roles as they cause unnecessary limitations and cognitive dissonance if I find my self acting contrary to how I have defined my self. Having a fluid identity gives me freedom to act on what I want and the changing nature of what I want. I suppose there are roles and qualities about my self that are more predominant than others at the moment, but even they are not absolute. You could also point to social institutions that have a major influence on how we think and act (i.e gender roles), but to deny the fluidity of those institutions would deny individual agency and the potential for free thought.

[MOTHER]

...and i find that defining myself, leaves me less "wishy-washy"...If I know what i am, i can grow to be the best THAT that i can....

Like they say,
"Jack-of-all-trades, master of none."
I choose, anyway, to be master of ONE, at least..

What defines me is many things...artist is another...
I can create art too...
but creating inspiration in others just feels more important somehow...
I can FEEL that this is my biggest calling...

Some of us are blessed to know that

[Sayde]

What defines me huh?

The reasons why I do things,my objectives and my traits,pretty rare from what i've seen ;(

so here are some of my objectives and the reasons behind them

= Increasing my physical strength = Protecting others,myself
= Loving someone = .. .. no need for a reason
= Finding ideas,great ones = To find a way to suspend the death of our planet; keeping it alive
= Helping someone,showing my gratitude = Seeing that natural smile no one will ever forget

[raykilleen]

Basically you are asking the question: "Who Am I?" and this website has some interesting concepts towards the insight of this question.

The Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi website

[Bongza]

Surely we are defined by our values and dreams.

[raykilleen]

Originally Posted by Bongza

Surely we are defined by our values and dreams.

Values and dreams are likes and dislikes of the mind arising from ones ego, following this paths surely leads towards fear, attachment and suffering, awaken from the dream to experience reality and liberation.

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
~Upanishads