Behavior IS NOT Identity

[CARDOZZO]

Why do we confuse two aspects of reality? 

I think this is one of the main issues in mental health. You CAN'T confuse your behaviors with your identity.

You are NOT what you DO. Doingness is not equal to Beingness. 

Contemplate why your behaviors are not your identity.

[CARDOZZO]

Contemplate why you judge yourself, past and humans based on behaviors. 

[Someone here]

10 hours ago, CARDOZZO said:

Contemplate why you judge yourself, past and humans based on behaviors. 

Because we are conditioned by society to do so.

[UnbornTao]

I'd say that these are aspects of yourself, not reality.

It might be that you aren't your identity either. Identity might as well be part of 'doingness.'

A good question here could be: What is identity? Because, as you say, there does seem to be a confusion for us between what we do and what we take ourselves to be. If we were to completely change, for example, our behavior and thinking patterns, how would we identify the character that we are?

In both our eyes and others', we'd likely show up as a completely different person. Would we, though?

So, what is identity?

[LastThursday]

On 31/03/2026 at 3:29 AM, CARDOZZO said:

I think this is one of the main issues in mental health. You CAN'T confuse your behaviors with your identity.

Identity is the whole package I would say, both what you feel yourself to be, and what you do. The canonical example of being asked "tell me about yourself" and then answering "I'm a car mechanic", where the answer is a super-compressed version of their identity and largely something they do (behaviour).

I'm curious why you think it's an issue of mental health though?

3 hours ago, UnbornTao said:

In both our eyes and others', we'd likely show up as a completely different person. Would we, though?

That's a very good point, that the identity you have for yourself doesn't always match the identity others assign to you.

[Rafael Thundercat]

Your Behaviour or things you do are related with what you percive yourself to be. If you identify yourself as having 5 years old you may end up Behaving like one. If you Identify as being Trump you will act like him. 

[gettoefl]

Identity for most is who do I want people to think I am. As opposed to who am I am really. Thus I will behave to get people to affirm my identity. 

Most think if others affirm my identity maybe I am really that after all. So I better not change my behavior.

True identity of course is awareness, within which no separate doer will be found. Awareness appears as moment-to-moment experience, arising without any reason that can be grasped by a mind.