#152 - The Problem With Saying "This Is Just How I Am"

#152 - The Problem With Saying "This Is Just How I Am"

From The Smarter Accountant Podcast by Dawn Goldberg, CPA

April 30, 2026 · 25 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the limitations of identifying oneself with negative traits and how it can hinder personal growth.

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "This is just how I am"? Maybe it sounded like: "I've always been bad at time management." "I'm just someone who procrastinates." "I work better under pressure." "I'm just not organized like other people." Those sentences can feel honest. Sometimes they even feel comforting. But have you ever stopped to wonder if they might also be quietly holding you back? In this week's episode, we're talking about the problem with saying "This is just how I am." I hear accountants say this phrase all the time when they talk about their workdays, their stress levels, or the way they handle busy season. Most of the time they aren't trying to limit themselves. They genuinely think they're just being realistic. But there's something subtle happening inside that sentence. When you describe something as part of who you are, your brain begins to treat it like a permanent fact. What may have started as a pattern or habit slowly turns into an identity. And when something feels like part of your identity, your brain often stops looking for other possibilities. That's where things can quietly get stuck. The words you repeat to yourself shape how you approach your…

People in this episode

Host: Dawn Goldberg

Topics covered

  • self-identity
  • time management
  • procrastination
  • personal development
  • accounting
  • mindset

Keywords

  • self-perception
  • habits
  • identity
  • accountants
  • stress management
  • busy season

More episodes of The Smarter Accountant Podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Smarter Accountant Podcast podcast page.