514: IDENTITY CRISIS

“Identity cannot be found or fabricated but emerges from within when one has the courage to let go.” —Doug Cooper

From time to time, you may experience periods of uncertainty and confusion that fuel your insecurities. As a result you question what exactly you’re doing and where you are in life.

If you’re feeling like this and wondering what exactly is going on, you may be experiencing an identity crisis.

An identity crisis is defined as a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person’s sense of identity becomes insecure, typically due to a change in their expected aims or role in society.

This feeling of confusion and uncertainty is probably a lot more common than you realize. When polled, 68% of the ONE family felt as if they got lost in their marriage at least once.

What can cause you to experience this feeling? At the core it’s the difference between reality and your expectations. You may be struggling with:

• I thought we were going to have this (car/home/vacation/lifestyle).
• I hoped that I would be at this point in my life now (kids/homes/career).
• I’m only known as someone’s spouse/parent/employee.
• I thought marriage was going to be a certain way.
• I don’t know who I am anymore.

When you get married navigating the expectations of marriage can be challenging. Add in the responsibility of kids, work and other demands and it’s easy to see how you could find yourself wondering, “What am I doing here? Is this all that there is?”

The ups and downs of life impact everyone. Life is filled with a lot of questions and emotions that can be tough to work through when you’re feeling out of control or unsure of what you’re supposed to be doing.

Having an identity crisis is not a sign of weakness. It’s an indication that there is a disconnect between expectations and reality. Don’t’ struggle by yourself when you’re having a crisis. Get help now so that you can confidently walk through this season and into one where you are thriving.