The Death of Identity: Why Becoming Someone New Is the Only Way Forward

“You can’t think your way out of this. At some point, you have to surrender, step through the portal, and let the old version of you die.” – Jordan Hall

What if the biggest obstacle in your life isn’t external? Not your job, not your relationships, not the economy, not even the circumstances you were born into. What if the real barrier between you and the life you want is something deeper, something internal—your identity?

Most people spend their entire lives reinforcing who they believe they are. They attach to old stories, past experiences, and familiar patterns, even when those things are keeping them stuck. But as Jordan Hall explains in his conversation with Curt Cronin on Making the Impossible Inevitable, breaking through to the next level of existence requires something radical: the willingness to let go of who you think you are.

Impossible for Who?

Jordan makes a crucial distinction: when we say something is impossible, we’re really saying it’s impossible for us—for the person we currently are. He explains, “When something feels impossible, it means the only thing left is for me to become someone else.”

Think about that. The version of you that exists today has a certain set of skills, beliefs, fears, and limitations. That version of you can only get so far. But the moment you step beyond those self-imposed boundaries, the impossible suddenly becomes inevitable.

The problem? Most of us don’t want to let go. Even if the identity we’ve built is limiting us, it feels safe. It’s what we know. And stepping into the unknown—the death of the old self—can feel like actual death.

The Fear of Letting Go

Letting go of an identity is terrifying. Jordan describes this process as stepping through a portal where one version of yourself ceases to exist and another emerges. But that transition isn’t smooth—it’s disorienting, painful, and full of resistance.

He shares, “Some part of you is always dying. The question is—are you willing to let go of the part that’s holding you back?”

For some, this means leaving behind a role they’ve played for years—whether that’s being the “successful” one, the “responsible” one, the “perfectionist,” or even the person who’s always struggling. For others, it means confronting deep fears of rejection, failure, or uncertainty. But on the other side of that fear is the freedom to become something greater.

The Journey Through the Unknown

The process of identity death and rebirth isn’t a one-time event. It’s a cycle that happens over and over again throughout life. Jordan explains that this kind of transformation requires surrender—an admission that the current version of you doesn’t have the answers and that something new needs to emerge.

We often resist transformation because we believe we should be able to figure it out on our own. But real change requires humility, a willingness to ask for help, and a commitment to stepping into the unknown before we feel ready.

Your Challenge: Who Do You Need to Become?

If something in your life feels impossible right now, ask yourself: is it truly impossible, or is it just impossible for the person you are today?

Here’s a challenge to sit with:

1. Identify the “impossible” – What’s something you deeply want but believe is out of reach?
2. Define the new version of you – What kind of person would be able to achieve it? What beliefs, habits, and fears would they have to let go of?
3. Take one step today – What’s one small but concrete action you can take to step into that new identity? It could be making a difficult phone call, starting a habit you've been avoiding, or saying yes to something that scares you.

As Jordan reminds us, it’s worth reading again, “You are always dying. The question is—are you willing to let go of the part that’s holding you back?” The choice is yours. Are you ready to step through the portal?

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