For me, identity has always been a touchy subject. Since my early teens, I had always had a sense of identity dissonance, right when I started to define my personality. I struggled to fit into a culture I felt didn’t represent me, and I didn’t quite feel like an outsider either.
My parents didn’t think too much of it; Assuming that it was just a quirk of my TV consumption habits and my lack of social skills. And to be honest, I don’t blame them. Who knows the secret sauce to make a unique identity for each individual? We certainly don’t.
Nevertheless, it was a challenging time, and I could have been spared quite a bit of pain and struggle had I known a role model I could identify more closely with —and maybe more therapy.
Identity Struggle
There are many kids out there (and some adults too) who are struggling. They struggle because they don’t feel like they have anything to ground themselves or their values. They don’t know if what they say to themselves is true or if they’re lying to themselves. And they don’t know who to figure it out.
There must be a better way.
Kind Empowerment
Well, we bring good news and not-so-good news.
The good news is that there is a “way,” an approach that we have used to find out who we are. The not-so-good news is that it requires you to get out of your comfort zone.
The most straightforward way to find out who you are is to find out who you are not, just like Edison said when he was asked about the fact that he had failed countless times trying to find the perfect filament for the electric bulb. “I have not failed 100 times, I have succeded at finding 100 ways it doent work.”
So what is the best way to go about it then? Well, challenge your belief.
- If you consider yourself a resilient person, be resilient when it is difficult to do so.
- If you think you are an adventurous person, be adventurous when it is difficult to be adventurous.
- If you genuinely believe you are a compassionate person, then be compassionate when it is tough to be compassionate.
If you genuinely are any of these things or not, you will find out.
Anyway, never force yourself too much. Be compassionate and understanding with yourself and allow time to do its thing.
Don’t forget to share with your friends and family if you find our content of value. Spread the good will and positivity to all corners of the world and be good to your loved ones.
We love and appreciate you.
Stay safe; stay well.
Cover photo by Hello I’m Nik on Unsplash