Discovery Cove - Part II

3.31.08 This exercise is called Acting the Part. In this exercise, you investigate if and how your identity or the role you play changes in different situations. Notice all the ways - no matter how subtle - you adapt, feel or behave.

1)Who am I with my parents? With my parents, I am a person who speaks her mind, I'm a know-it-all, I can be presumptuous and slightly arrogant. I can act spoiled and moody. I am also fun-loving and seeking to acquire my parents advice and insights. I let myself be taken care of.

2)Who am I with the rest of my family? I'm a sassy sister with my brother. I'm a good-natured, sophisticated, adventuresome person who can emphasize with my brother's problems and also wants to drink in his life experiences. I'm not afraid to open up or be myself or express what I'm feeling.

3)Who am I with my friends? I'm an enthusiastic, free-spirited, juicy indiviual who asks deep life questions, seeks intimate connection and likes to bond over fun activities and conversation.

4)Who am I with men? I guess it depends who it is - therefore maybe I do camaflogue myself to a point. I'm not sure, I've been a different woman with every man I've been with I think. With male friends - I'm a succulent and sweet, smart but sometimes ditzy and usually funny female.

5)Who am I with someone I am dating/in a serious relationship with/married to? I'm a sincere and honest partner. I strive for harmonious balance. I mentally check in often to see if there are any problems to address. I give more than I take, I enjoy affection and compassion and tender intimacy. I enjoy doing things together and focusing on the other person, doing anything that allows for interaction.

6)Who am I with my coworkers/boss? I'm a little strange I think. I try to act professional but I don't know how to stop my personality from coming through. I try to assert myself and be serious but fun to be around at the same time.

7)Who am I with someone who intimadates me? I'm shy and withdrawn, I'm quiet - mostly just because I'm observing and I feel stuck.

8)Who am I with someone I don't like? I have an attitude, maybe a bit snooty or I just avoid them, I won't make eye contact or I'll just ignore their presence.

9)Who am I at work? I'm very focused, hard working, I'm task oriented, I'm stressed out, I'm freaking out and candidly funny, I'm looking for help but trying not to seem like I have no idea what I'm doing.

10)Who am I with a group of people? It depends on the group but I tend to blend in, I don't try for all the attention. I hone in on a few people I feel especially comfortable with and I focus on them mostly, maybe I isolate myself. Groups make me feel insecure, like I don't know my place.

11)Who am I in a social situation? I'm generally outgoing and upbeat. I try to get everyone to have a good time. I engage people in conversation and if I sense any akwardness, I act goofy even at the expense of making myself look dumb.

12)Who am I at a bar or party? I am interested in talking to people to more or less find out why they are there and what they are looking for. I'll try socializing with my friends but realizing it's more or less impossible - I'll just want to get drunk so I can mellow out and not really care what's going on since there are far more important things I could be doing with my time.