We’ve all heard that corny commercial where the salesperson asks the audience, “How in the world are ya?” As if listeners in their cars everywhere are going to sit up and answer, “I’m doing great. How are you?”

Seriously. Who wants to talk back to the stereo? Only people who are OK with talking to themselves. And being OK with talking to yourself weirds out other passengers in the car (not that I know this from experience… do I?).

Speaking of weird looks, my latch broke on my car door this week. I’ve had to belly-crawl over the console exactly 32 times to get out the other door. Talk about strangers calling 9-1-1 and reporting a loony…

Back to the topic – which is not weird looks, although that’s what you’re about to give me. Because I’m about to ask you something similar to that corny commercial question. Are you ready? Here it is:

Who in the World are Ya?

If you could tell me who you were, what would you say? (By the way – feel free to do so in the comments section. I’d love to get to know you!)

Maybe you’d tell me your name – or your age – or your school – or your hobbies. Maybe you’d tell me about your crazy family that plans every vacation around the Waning Gibbous phase of the lunar cycle for good luck.

But does this really tell me much about you? Or did I just learn statistics and facts? If I wanted to know the real you – how would I find it?

Figuring out Who You Are

Most people are stumped when I ask them the “Who In The World Are Ya?” question. They bumble – and stutter – and generally sprint in the other direction.

And I don’t blame them. It’s a big question. I’m asking you to reveal something that you may not be sure of yourself.

So… Who Are You, Anyway?

Someone once said that the real you is who you are when no one else is looking. So picture yourself at home. And remember: home is where you can scratch what itches. In other words, let down all your guards. Don’t worry about it. No one’s looking.

Now, see yourself there – playing Wii, reading, watching TV, or knitting that sweater for your dog? Yeah. That person. Right there.

What’s he or she thinking about? What are his or her dreams? What are his or her hopes? What are his or her goals?

Now take those. Write them down. Some of them may change. (Boy, am I glad one of mine did. I think my insurance company would frown on the whole “ride a crocodile down the Nile” thing anyway.)

But even though some things will change over time, your core – your passion – will remain the same. Your driving force – your heart – is what will enable you, through God, to change the world.

And that is, after all, why He put you here.

So who in the world are ya?

B.J. Hamrick is a talker, a dreamer, and writer who blogs here  5 days a week.