The word identity comes from the latin words “identidem” (which translates as: “repeatedly”), and “essentitas” (being). 

So your identity literally means your “repeated beingness”. 

If you believe something about yourself right now, you only do so because you have accumulated evidence for it. 

For instance, if you hit the snooze button every day, you're giving yourself evidence that you are a lazy person. If you take the stairs instead of the elevator, you’re building the evidence base that you’re a healthy person. If you save 10% of your income each month, you’re building the evidence-base that you are someone who cares about their future self. 

The more proof you have collected that supports your identity, the more you will believe in it. 

Think about your own life for a second: What identities do you currently hold? 

And what are the actions that you have taken consistently that have built the evidence base for them?

Change does not happen in an instant. 

It happens gradually. 

Small daily behaviours are vital because they build evidence for a new identity. Your actions both reflect your identity and help to shape it.

Therefore, if you want to reinvent yourself, focus on changing your actions. 

Gradually, if you build up enough evidence, you’ll have created a new identity.