I AM Who I AM
“I AM OLGA!”
The bouncing blonde woman, dressed in a 150-year-old Ukrainian outfit, beamed as she introduced herself in her Ukrainian accent.
“Yes, you are!” I replied, smiling back.
She was adorable—radiating joy, eager to share her story of how she was supporting her family back home. Olga was a beautiful example of someone embracing her true essence, allowing it to shine through her words and presence.
What would it be like to fully embody and radiate our internal essence? To be so joyful about who we are that we literally light up a room?
What if our “I am” was filled with excitement, exuberance, and a deep, life-giving joy?
How would that change how we feel inside? What would we be doing?
Hopefully, at some point in your life, you’ve experienced that feeling. Maybe in the past, maybe even today. If the parents, leaders, coaches, and mentors of the world are doing their jobs, they encourage us to learn, grow, and embrace both our successes and our flaws.
I believe one of the most intimate things God ever said was, “I AM who I AM.” (Exodus 3:14)
When I researched the Hebrew meaning of this phrase, I found that it expresses God’s eternal existence—He is who He says He is. He exists. He be. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. A continuous state of being.
If that’s true, then one of the most powerful and intimate statements we can utter begins with “I am.”
How we finish that phrase shapes who we are. It influences how we feel, how we live, and ultimately, who we become.
We use “I am” in two key ways:
1. In relation to others – “I am… your teacher. A mother. His friend.” These statements define our roles in the lives of those around us. They carry meaning, power, and nuance depending on how we interpret ourselves in those relationships.
2. In relation to ourselves – “I am… sad. Thoughtful. Safe. Loved.” These statements reveal our internal world. Whether spoken aloud or expressed
through tone, facial expressions, or behavior, they communicate how we perceive ourselves in that moment.
Every time we complete the phrase “I am,” we shape our reality. Each thought influences the next, setting the course for our lives.
So, be mindful of what you say—especially to yourself. Your brain doesn’t always distinguish between words spoken by others and the thoughts you generate internally.
Remember, God created the heavens and the earth with just His words. He spoke, and it came to be.
What if the same creative power exists within us?
He also created you—uniquely, wonderfully, intentionally. So live like the masterpiece you are. Speak blessings over yourself. Be the only you that exists—imperfect, undeniable, amazing.
You.
-Dr. Genie Burnett, Psy.D, CEDS-S; CEO and Clinical Director
