You are not your work. But your work is an extension of you. It is your creation. An outflow of you. It’s what you have produced using a mix of your experience, energy, emotion, intention, sweat.  The trauma we experience as kids has an effect on our work. On our performance - on our contribution. Many (not all) who are entrepreneurial, high-performing, high-achieving, athletes have used trauma as a driving force for success - for their personal success - and in many cases they have a drive for creating change in the world in some way. 

Artists who make art about important issues that are hard to talk about.

Therapists and coaches who developed their expertise through healing their own pain (myself included).

Entrepreneurs who make a commitment to themselves to drive the world forward in some way - to build something great and leave the world better. 

Children who honour their vow to themselves to be better parents than their own and stop the cycle of...