I went on a coastal hike with my friend Amber last Saturday. The weather was gorgeous, and like all hikes, we got “it all out on the mountain.” We even tried solving a world problem or two. I hadn’t slept well and the fresh air and conversation were exactly what the doctor ordered.
At one point, we talked about how more people openly are expressing their frustration, anger and anxiety these days. Being cut off in traffic, someone “pulling a nutty” in the grocery store, a neighbor goes off on you. We both wondered why it’s happening. We agreed that it stemmed from feeling a lack of ease and the inability to accept all of their emotions. I said perhaps it threatens their Identity to acknowledge not only their brilliance but also the parts they don’t like within themselves. Amber said, “Ames, you should write about this.”
I searched “identity crisis” and here’s what Google had to say:
An identity crisis is a period of uncertainty in your definition and direction.
Common signs of having an Identity crisis are:
- Questioning who you are
- Questioning your purpose
- Questioning your passion
- Experiencing anxiety
- Altering your values to match your environment or relationship
- Difficulty trusting your ability to make decisions
Some causes of an identity crisis are:
-
- A traumatic event
- Major life transitions
- Loss of someone you love
- Health changes
- Relationship changes
We just went through a traumatic, two-year, global pandemic, on top of dealing with health, career, relationship and loss challenges that many of us faced. A BIG RED LIGHTBULB went off in my head. We’re going through a COLLECTIVE IDENTITY CRISIS.
No wonder some of us are feeling wobbly and uncomfortable in our own skin! Questioning: “Who Am I Now?” and “What Matters to Me?” It’s normal. We’ve had a major upheaval in our day to day so of course, the pandemic affected how we view ourselves, our identity, and our worldview.
If you’re looking to recalibrate, refresh your mojo, reset your compass, claim your unique attributes and recommit to what you truly value and want schedule a FREE 30-minute clarity call with me here.