Aim at who you could be

“Aim at who you could be” means defining yourself—really defining yourself. James Clear’s identity framing captures it well: become the kind of person who does X. Bob Dylan once just wanted to be Woody Guthrie; picking an ideal or imaginary mentor can be clarifying.

This starts with value intuitions. Not a forced “what matters to me?” session (which is often just culture talking), but a running log of resonances—moments of awe, joy, or rightness. Write them down when they occur. Games, the outdoors, old friends, the thrill of learning, the buzz of creating something new—whatever lights you up. That’s the raw material of identity.

The “write your own obituary” exercise works for some, but there’s another frame worth considering: define your future self in writing and compare yourself only with who you were yesterday, not with others. It’s directional and humane. It keeps meaning on the table when motivation wobbles.

The Core Idea

Your identity isn’t fixed—it’s a direction. The question isn’t “who am I?” but “who am I becoming?” This cell is about setting that direction with intention rather than drifting on autopilot.

Why This Matters

Without a clear aim, you’re navigating without a compass. Every decision becomes harder because there’s no reference point. With a defined future self, choices become clearer: “Would the person I’m becoming do this?”