I’m taking away all your credentials.
All of those official documents of certifiable self-esteem are all gone now.
That graduate degree that cost you countless nights of cramming, hangovers, and thousands of dollars in student loan debt? Gone.
That bachelor’s degree with honors and distinction, and some insignificant certification you never use but decided to pursue because you thought it would look good on your resume? That’s gone too.
That high school diploma you basically made just enough time to get in between your numerous extracurricular activities and the arguments with your controlling parents who “only wanted the best for you”? Poof!
You’re bare naked now and must go through life unable to claim all of those credentials you used to have. How will you fare?
For some people, this is akin to an identity crisis. To lose all of those certificates, diplomas, licenses, and documents that took so much hard work and time to acquire is like losing a sense of one’s self. Many think the whole point of even going through those programs, courses, and procedures is to get that “damn piece of paper” that doesn’t guarantee anything, but can hinder your opportunities if you don’t possess it.
From the people we associate with to our feelings of a sense of accomplishment, so much of our lifestyle is influenced by our credentials. What is its role when it comes to your identity and self-esteem?
In its most basic use, credentials are supposed to prove that its bearer has accomplished a certain minimum standard of competency. Among people with the same credentials, they do little more by themselves to differentiate who is more or less competent. It is up to the individual to demonstrate his or her experience, results, and track record.
Our driven, competitive culture can influence individuals to get attached to their credentials to the point where it becomes a central part of who they are. This can lead to disillusionment when people discover that others really do not care about their credentials as much as they think.
Yes, it’s impressive in the moment you first let someone know. But if your identity includes “PH.D in bioengineering” and “whore bag slut monkey”, I have a sneaking suspicion that one descriptor might weigh more on people’s minds than the other.
The point is, you are not your credentials. Credentials are something that you “have”, not something that you “are”. When you root your being or identity in things that are determined by other people, the foundation is likely to be unstable.
How would you feel about yourself if someone with even better credentials inevitably came along? If you do not base your identity on your credentials, this wouldn’t pose an issue. You would recognize that there are qualitative factors between you two that are incomparable.
Many people are often surprised when they meet highly credentialed individuals who are just humble, “normal” people. Perhaps there is a hidden assumption that these people will wear their credentials on their shoulders or act in a superior manner.
When you understand and believe that you are much more than your credentials, and that they are actually a very insignificant part of what people think of you as a person, you become more respectable and can make an even bigger impression.
What impression will you make on the world beyond your credentials?
Art of Sleeping Awake 