How I Work cover image

How I Work

Work-Life Fusion: Is it a problem if your career becomes your identity?

Mar 26, 2025
In this engaging conversation, clinical psychologist Sabina Read, known for her insights on 3AW and her podcast 'Human Cogs', tackles the tricky relationship between identity and work. She discusses how many people tie their self-worth to their job and the potential pitfalls of this connection. Sabina offers practical strategies for setting healthy boundaries and emphasizes the importance of pursuing interests outside of work. Key points include identifying over-identification with one's career and the value of diverse friendships in shaping one's identity.
34:06

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Strong connections between identity and work can complicate self-worth, particularly during job transitions or losses, leading to identity crises.
  • Engaging in diverse activities and nurturing relationships outside of work are essential strategies for maintaining a balanced and resilient identity.

Deep dives

The Connection Between Identity and Work

Many individuals strongly associate their identity with their jobs, often leading to a blurred line between personal self-worth and professional success. This connection arises from a societal narrative that often portrays the ideal job as one perfectly aligned with an individual's core self, similar to beliefs surrounding soulmates and ideal living situations. However, this alignment also has a shadow side, as it can result in a loss of identity if work is lost or if one's job role changes significantly. Exploring this dynamic raises important questions about how deeply our professions influence our self-perception and overall well-being.

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