How to Overcome Identity Distortion and Live Authentically | Spencer West - EP 784

**John R. Miles** (0:00)
Coming up next on Passion Struck, asking yourself the question why am I here?

**Spencer West** (0:04)
And really leaning into that and stop worrying about what life is and start wondering what it could be. I think those are the two things that as when I was writing this book that really resonated and I hope people will pick up on, is to really just cause and take a look around you and why am I here? And what do I want?
And then having that ability to wonder what could be because part of the framework also for this book is this idea that we have to have self trust and self confidence. Self trust to be able to listen to what's in here and what we want, and the self confidence to believe that you can actually achieve whatever that is. And so to do that, I think we have to start with those questions.

**John R. Miles** (0:44)
Welcome to Passion Struck. I'm your host, John Miles. This is the show where we explore the art of human flourishing and what it truly means to live like it matters. Each week, I sit down with change makers, creators, scientists, and everyday heroes to decode the human experience and uncover the tools that help us lead with meaning, heal with hurts, and pursue the fullest expression of who we're capable of becoming. Whether you're designing your future, developing as a leader, or seeking deeper alignment in your life, this show is your invitation to grow with purpose and act with intention, because the secret to a life of deep purpose, connection, and impact is choosing to live like you matter.
Hello, friends, and welcome back to episode seven hundred and eighty four of Passion Struck. Have you ever looked around at your life and realized that, somewhere along the way, you became the person everyone expected you to be, but not necessarily the person you were meant to become.
Maybe you've chosen the career that looks successful on paper, stayed in relationships because they felt safe, measured your worth by accomplishments instead of authenticity. We're spent years trying to fit into expectations that never really belong to you. Throughout our Connection Crisis series, we've been exploring the invisible forces that shape how we relate to ourselves and to one another. Last Tuesday, Katie Morton revealed how our earliest experiences create emotional blueprints that continue influencing us throughout adulthood and then on Thursday, Adam Lane Smith helped us understand how attatchment patterns quietly shape the relationships we build and the stories we tell ourselves about love, safety, and belonging. Today, we're asking an equally important question, what happens when the person you become isn't actually you. My guest today is Spencer West. Spencer is an internationally acclaimed speaker, activist, and best selling author whose remarkable life, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro without legs, is inspiring in ways that go far beyond physical resilience, because beneath every extraordinary achievement is a much more universal story.
It's the story of learning to separate your identity from everyone else's expectations. In this conversation, Spencer shares voice so many of us unknowingly build lives around inherited definitions of success, why safety often becomes the greatest obstacle to authenticity, and how breaking free isn't about becoming someone new, it's about remembering who.

**SPEAKER_3** (3:18)
You've been all along.

**John R. Miles** (3:20)
We'll explore why belonging without authenticity ultimately leaves us feeling empty, how identity becomes distorted over time, and why flourishing begins the moment we stop asking who the world wants us to be and start asking.

**SPEAKER_3** (3:35)
Who we truly are. If you've ever felt successful.

**John R. Miles** (3:38)
On the outside while quietly wondering whether you're living your own life for someone else's, this conversation may become one of the most.

**SPEAKER_3** (3:46)
Important you've ever heard before we begin.

**John R. Miles** (3:48)
If today's episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who may need this message, and if you haven't already, leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is one of the best ways to help others discover Passion Struck. You can also download today's companion workbook and reflection guide completely free at the ignitedlife dot net. And now let's dive in with Spencer West. Thank you for choosing Passion Struck and choosing me to be your host and guide on your journey to creating and intentional life that matters. Now let that journey begin.
I am absolutely honored today to welcome Spencer West to Passion Struck. Spencer, how are you doing today in Canada?
First of all, I'm so grateful to be here and I'm good. It's a bit of a gray, rainy day, but I kind of like that It's kind of nice to have the juxtaposition every now and then. I love to bring in guests from Canada because it's one of my top three listening countries.