What Miami Vice Taught Me About Identity
In the 1980’s there was a TV show called ‘Miami Vice’, about two undercover police officers from, surprisingly enough, Miami. The image & clothing of the police officers, and it’s location, gave it a particular image which made it an iconic show of the 1980’s.
Toward the end of season 2, one of the principal characters, Sonny Crockett (played by Don Johnson, left in picture), poses undercover as a drug dealer ‘Sonny Burnett’. This is a false self with his own backstory.
But when Sonny gets hit on the head and gets amnesia, he only remembers the identity of Sonny Burnett. So he goes ahead and lives out that identity, not remembering he is an undercover police officer, existing solely as Sonny Burnett.
He’s not Sonny Burnett. It’s not his true identity. However, he continues to live and act like he is. And this story, and it’s resolution, is a great example of a fundamental truth about identity. In the words of Rob Bell:
“What we do comes out of who we believe we are”
In other words, our identity defines our reality.
For the longest time I believed I was doomed to fail. That God’s destiny for me was to underachieve, fail, never reach my potential, and die fat, lonely and forgotten. And because of the difficulties I had gone through, there seemed a lot of evidence to back this up.
And guess what happened? My weight ballooned. I stayed single. And I barely put any effort into my work, which meant I underachieved and didn’t reach my potential.
What I did came out from who I believed I was. And it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
But the problem was, voices kept nagging away at me. God kept telling me
‘You think you’re worthless, but you’re worth everything to me’
I also had many friends who kept encouraging me, supporting me, loving me. And others complimenting me on my writing, telling me I had a gift I needed to share with others, and they believed in me. And saying I was capable of far more than I gave myself credit for.
And the thing was, part of me knew they were right. I just didn’t want to believe it. It scared me. Because it was the unknown, with not as much tangible evidence to prove it. Not in my eyes anyway.
It was easier to believe the lies. The lies were like a comfort zone. Easy. Safe. No risk.
Truth Transforms Actions
To believe the truth would involve me taking action. Writing a new story with my life. Taking steps out, risking, going on a path where I could only just see in front of me, the rest obscured by a cloud of unknowing. With only a big dream just visible beyond the cloud keeping me going.
After much turmoil, I’ve slowly begun to live this new story. The demons still lie to my face, still mount their attacks. But I am beginning to choose a different path. To believe a different truth. To embrace my true identity and calling.
I am choosing to proclaim the truth – my identity is a precious, infinitely loved and accepted child of my creator. My security, my comfort, my protection lays there, in Him.
It’s not in my past, my future, or in anything I do. I don’t need to prove myself to anyone, not even myself.
My calling is to be a writer, a person who creates work which makes a difference in the world. To encourage and support others. I have gifts, ones I know of, ones not yet developed, which can all help others, if I’m willing to do the work. I can lose weight if I take it seriously. I know I’m capable of finding someone to do the journey of life with, in time. And I know I will not be forgotten, whatever happens in my life.
Every day, I am choosing to believe the truth about who I am. Learning to ignore the dark voices inside. And slowly my life is changing. I am being transformed. Growing, changing, more into who I was created to be.
Sonny Burnett eventually begins to have memories appear of another life, his true identity of Sonny Crockett. And eventually, he realises who he truly is, and what he has done – and returns to his previous identity. Because no matter how much he fell away from the truth of who he was, he couldn’t deny it forever.
None of us can.
So today, choose the truth about yourself. The truth some part of you knows deep inside. The truth, that you have infinite value and worth already. You have nothing to prove to anyone. And then, choose to live out the calling, the story, you were created to live.
Choose your true identity, and it will become your story.(you can tweet that)
Your identity will become your reality.
Are you with me?
Question for Reflection:
What truth are you believing about yourself, which holds you back from fulfilling your true calling?
Let me know in the comments below!
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(Picture Source: Glen H / Ahmad Mammoud via Creative Commons)
I want to just give you a big hug. 🙂 Everyone has a value in this world and I’m so glad you’re in a better place. I enjoy your blog a lot.
Ah, thanks Elyse, appreciate that so much. Yes, I’m in a better place now, though I still have my moments. Really appreciate your comments and encouragement. Thank you.
Thank you for reminding me of the quote from Rob Bell. I’m glad you are listening to your calling.
Thanks Denise, yes I love that quote from Rob Bell. Appreciate your encouragement too.
Very true, James. I wrote a book “Three Steps: The Journeys of Ayrold” and in it, my lead is asked: What scares you? After some thought, he replies: “The three of us, me, myself and I” At some point in life, each of us must face that mirror and the person it reflects. We must look it directly in the eye and realize – that is just the outer me. I must learn to let the inner me be visible. Good post.
Thanks for the comment Bob, glad you liked the post. And totally agree with you, we all must face that mirror at times. Great comment, thanks.
Awwww! I loved that show! I remember that storyline. What a great analogy, and I’m so glad God convinced you of your true value. 😀
So cool that you loved this show & remember the story. Thanks for the comment & the encouragement Tamie, really appreciate it 🙂
this stuff is the shizzle James. BRILLIANT! I always say you have to actually act “as if” …. and I believe I’m pretty cool… … … …
Yeah, I think you’re pretty cool as well 🙂 Thanks for the comment & encouragement!
Great testimony James.
Thanks Tara.
Well said, James.
Thanks Dave 🙂
When other people show you that you are loved, you begin to believe you are lovable! Keep those cheerleaders around you and become the person they see. As for characters in our books, I noticed that changing a character’s name also changed how I viewed them. They started acting different, often much better for the story. Just a tidbit of strange info.
Absolutely Diane, really appreciate your kind words. Thanks for the encouragement & for sharing a bit about characters is in books too – really interesting! Thanks again.
Just what I needed to hear James! Thank you for writing, authentically and for sharing your gifts with us!
Thanks Julie-Anne, so appreciate your kind words. Glad the post spoke to you 🙂
Great post!! I’m also glad you listen to your calling and know you have infinite value! I was a kid when Miami Vice was on TV, but I saw it and can almost hear the music theme right now, great analogy. I can totally resonate with your story…all those dark voices, I have heard them too. Fortunately, God’s voice is MUCH stronger. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Mariane, appreciate your comment & encouragement – means a lot. So glad you know God’s voice is far stronger. 🙂
Great post James! I find I worry too much about what people will think of me. That holds me back more than anything. And while I have had several occasions to stretch out and grow my backbone, I still fear it once in a while. And along with that I fear the judgement of others. And by others I mean my peers and Christian family. I have felt that sting before and I don’t like it.
Thanks Nichole, really grateful for your encouragement. I can worry too much about others opinions at times too. Less so now than before, but it still happens. I think that fear does take a long time to get out of our system. Great comment, thanks.
Good post, James. Amazing how fast the dark voices inside our heads can envelope us. Yes, I agree that we can fall into the self-fulfilling prophecy. We just don’t want the negative to overcome us and you are definitely striking back and taking a stance. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much Bob, as ever, for the wise words and the encouragement. Glad the post resonated with you. Thanks again.
Excellent discussion James. It’s another way of saying “believe in yourself.” But I think we can also decide on the truth about ourselves. It’s not predetermined, and while we all have gifts, they can be shaped in different ways through practice, training and experience. Some people decide to express their creativity through music, but a different early life choice could have just as easily, or with equal difficulty, led them to painting, photography or writing.
And since we can’t see the future, maybe it’s just impossible to tell the difference between inventing yourself and discovering yourself.
Another fantastic, wise comment Scott – always look forward to your comments, thanks. And totally agree.
Good one, James.
Thanks Charles 🙂
I used to believe I was a good influence at church, a pioneer, someone who could bring people on in God, inspire them, teach them etc but now? Now I know who I am but I think I have little to give, a bod, nothing special and unsurprisingly I have no1 to give to nor do I minister much these days.
Jane, so sad to hear you’ve lost that self-confidence and belief, hope you manage to discover that again.
Thanks James. Me too.