Each of us go through a process to figure out who we really are.  Some people do not figure it out during this lifetime.  That doesn't have to include you.  Decide you will go the distance to tap into your soul.  Your choice of mentors makes it easier than you think!

1) Notice how your mentors change.  Through the process of researching and writing a manuscript, I have read hundreds of stories of people who have influenced my thoughts and behaviors at different life phases. Some people left a lasting impression in person. Others captured my attention with action and what I sensed to be their appealing qualities. Aspects that stand out encourage me to realize I can tap into my hidden self.

2) Discern why you label mentors.  I unconsciously put each of my mentors into categories, from nationality, to gender, profession or contribution to society, and based on my upbringing, morals and values. I intially felt this simply helped me to organize my ideas, then concluded a significant, underlying message. My feelings about different labels became a gauge. Recognizing why I judge empowers me to transcend destructive labels I had adopted myself. We may project and attract what we don't want or what we're not.

3) Identify traits of your mentors. How you judge others reveals how you secretly view yourself and the world. If you commend or admire other people in ways that reinforce what you lack, wish you had or could do, you may be highlighting weaknesses, self-doubt and things that distract you from your truth. Your mindset, priorities and principles are highlighted by certain traits and views of success.

4) Discern value in undesirable mentors.  Even people you find annoying offer you valuable wisdom about yourself.  You can see these irritants as teachers and a means for overcoming facits of ego.  This clouds your authentic self-view and blocks you from recognizing what is truly important to your innermost soul. 

5) Look beyond the obvious. Underneath it all, you don't desire to mimic or shapeshift into your inspirational mentors. You are actually creating an inventory of the skills related to your own transformation. Your mentors enable you to pinpoint not only the emotions you feel about what they do, but also your inner beliefs that caused those emotions. These clues reveal the path to reclaim your authentic self.