LEARN HOW TO LIVE THE "I AM" MINDSET

By Durrell Dixon | Faith-Based Personal Development Coach & Christian Psychology Advocate

 Saying “I Am” Shapes Everything

There’s something undeniably powerful about the words “I am.” Those two words shape how we see ourselves, what we go after, and how we live our lives. When you compare “I am” to “I want to be,” you can feel the difference immediately. One speaks from identity, the other from desire. One is rooted, the other is reaching.

This isn’t just about motivation or positive affirmations. It’s about spiritual alignment. It’s about speaking and living from the identity Christ has already secured for you, not chasing an image the world told you to strive for.

Identity: Where True Transformation Begins

When I say “I am,” I’m not trying to hype myself up—I’m affirming who I already am in Christ. Not who I’m trying to become someday. There’s a weighty difference here. That mindset either flows from the world’s performance-driven systems or from God’s Spirit-formed identity.

2 Corinthians 5:17“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  

Identity formation is key to personal development. Research confirms that people are more likely to take consistent action when they operate from an identity-based mindset rather than a goal-based one (Burke & Stets, 2022). Identity isn't about achievement—it's about being.

Self-Assurance: Confidence Rooted in Christ

Self-assurance is not self-esteem inflated by likes, applause, or performance. It’s confidence that rests in something unshakeable: Christ in me.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  

Neuroscience backs this up. Studies show that self-efficacy (the belief that one can take action and create change) significantly improves motivation and resilience (Bandura, 2021). When you know Christ strengthens you, you’re no longer intimidated by what’s ahead—you’re empowered to move forward.

So instead of saying, “I hope I can,” I choose to declare, “I am strengthened. I am empowered. I am not alone.” That’s self-assurance with spiritual backing.

Self-Awareness: Seeing Yourself Through God’s Eyes

Self-awareness is more than just “knowing yourself.” It’s being deeply conscious of who you really are in God’s eyes.

2 Corintians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!" 

That’s not poetic language—that’s truth.

Self-awareness also allows us to discern when our thinking strays from that truth. According to a 2023 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology, those who regularly reflect on their spiritual identity demonstrate greater emotional regulation, clarity of purpose, and mental health stability (King et al., 2023).

This is where metacognition, the ability to think about your thinking, comes in. When you’re aware of your inner dialogue, you can check it against what God says. Is what I’m telling myself rooted in fear or faith? Shame—or sonship?

 Ownership: Taking Responsibility for Your Walk

This one’s tough love. But necessary.

Galatians 6:4–5 “4 But let each test his own work, and then he will have the ground of boasting in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each shall bear his own load.” 

Ownership is about taking full responsibility for your walk with God, your growth, and your choices, not waiting on someone else to change first. This is where maturity begins.

Psychologists call this an internal locus of control—believing that you have a role in shaping your life’s direction (Rotter, 2021). Spiritually speaking, it means acknowledging that God has already equipped you, and now you must choose to be led by the Spirit to walk it out.

 “I Am” vs. “I Want to Be”: Identity or Insecurity?

We often say, “I want to be stronger… more loving… more disciplined.” While there’s nothing wrong with desiring growth, listen closely: sometimes, “I want to be” is quietly rooted in a sense of lack.

It unintentionally highlights what we’re not yet, what we’ve failed at before, or what still feels far away. And over time, it can actually breed discouragement.

But when I declare “I am”, I’m standing in the finished work of Christ. I’m no longer chasing identity—I’m walking it out.

 “I Choose To”: Identity in Action

There’s power when “I am” and “I choose to” come together.

I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)…

and I choose to live like one.

“I choose to” is a statement of intention, backed by identity. It’s not just wishful thinking—it’s willful alignment. Research shows that intentional action based on internal values leads to long-term behavior change (Ryan & Deci, 2021). That’s transformation in motion.

 Practical Steps to Walk in the “I Am” Mindset

Here’s how you start making the shift from striving to standing:

1. Renew Your Language

• Swap “I want to be more confident” with “I am confident in Christ, and I choose to speak with courage.”

• Declare who you already are in Christ daily.

2. Reflect with God’s Word

• Use Scriptures as identity anchors. Journal responses to verses like:

  • Romans 8:37

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17

  • Philippians 4:13

3. Practice Intentional Choice

• Ask: What is one action today that matches who I am in Christ?

• Example: “I am generous”—so I choose to give encouragement today.

4. Guard Against Comparison

• Galatians 6:4-5 reminds us to carry our own load. You are not behind. You’re on a God-ordained path. Own it!

Final Thought: You’re Not Chasing Identity—You’re Living It

God has already declared who you are. Your job is to agree with Him and choose to live like it.

Today, I remind myself—and I invite you to do the same:

I am who God says I am.

I choose to live like it.

That, my friend, is a mindset worth living.

References

• Bandura, A. (2021). Self-Efficacy in Changing Societies. Cambridge University Press.

• Burke, P. J., & Stets, J. E. (2022). Identity Theory and Social Psychology. Oxford University Press.

• King, P. E., Ramos, J., & McMakin, D. (2023). "Spiritual Identity and Well-Being in Emerging Adults." Journal of Positive Psychology, 18(2), 151–165.

• Rotter, J. B. (2021). “Locus of Control and Responsibility.” Psychological Review, 128(3), 425–441.

• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2021). Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness. Guilford Press.