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  At one point in our lives, we might find ourselves questioning our identity. According to VeryWell Mind, an identity crisis is a developmental event that involves a person questioning their sense of self or place in the world. The concept was originated by Erik Erikson, a Danish-German-American developmental psychologist, and psychoanalyst, who opined that the formation of identity was one of the most important conflicts that people face.
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According to Erikson, an identity crisis is a time of intensive analysis and exploration of different ways of looking at oneself. Erikson noted that developing a sense of identity is important during the teenage years, though the formation and growth of identity are not confined to adolescence only. An identity crisis is real and can hit any stage of your life. There are various symptoms of an identity crisis. They include:
  • Questioning your passions
  • Questioning your spiritual beliefs
  • Questioning your values
  • Questioning your role in the society
  • Questioning your purpose in life
  • Questioning your whole life
In this article, you will learn how to overcome an identity crisis.

  • Acknowledge and accept your feelings

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One of the first ways to overcome an identity crisis is to acknowledge the way you feel about yourself, no matter how you feel, whether negative or positive. You may feel good and bad about yourself, however, it is very important to accept how you feel, which will allow you to either consolidate the good feelings or work on the bad feelings. 

  • Explore your beliefs and interests

An identity crisis allows you to do some soul-searching and identify your beliefs and interests. It offers you the opportunity to spot what makes you happy or what will make you make you. Also, it will help you weed out those things you dislike and stick to those things that you love. Also, an identity crisis is an opportunity to create new hobbies and have new interests that can help you know yourself better.

  •  Consider your goals

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Another way to overcome an identity crisis is to spend time reflecting on what you truly want from life. You can start with short-term goals. You can choose to achieve simpler things such as writing a book, running a blog, waking up early, traveling to new places, reading more books, etc. The most important thing is to do what makes you happy and what you will be proud of.  From winning small goals, you can into setting medium-term goals such as starting a reading club, an online class, a volunteering service, etc. An identity crisis is a deep call to do something fulfilling. 

  • Get support

An identity crisis does not require you to stay in isolation but rather belong to a healthy company of friends and family. Dealing with an identity crisis requires strong social support. Having healthy conversations about life with an elderly or younger sibling can be therapeutic and soul-lifting. You need to be in the company of those who respect you for who you are and are willing to help you become the best version of yourself. Friends, family members, social clubs, religious groups, team sports groups, and support groups can all be great places to find the support that you need. Featured Image Source: The Brick Theatre
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This article was first published on 17th May 2022

nnaemeka-emmanuel

Nnaemeka is an academic scholar with a degree in History and International Studies from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is also a creative writer, content creator, storyteller, and social analyst.

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