Identity is something that we may struggle with past adolescents. As I earned different degrees, took on different professions, and even different roles within my job; my identity has shifted and I have learned to grapple with different roles and expressions of my expertise. I have mastered my personal identity, but have continued to grapple with the identity that I portray to the world. My Christianity is the foundation of my life, but working at a non-Christian organization, I have to be cognizant of how I express my love and reliance on God publicly. I have a desire to help all people and often find myself watering down my Christianity, to maintain the audience of non-Christian subscribers. I am learning as I take hold of my identity outside of work hours that it is safe to fully express who I am. Some people won’t like it, but we only have one life to live and I may as well live it out loud, sharing all the truths that have helped to sustain and propel me. On your search for identity, I hope that you can also find ways to embrace who you are and live out loud in this world. Vulnerability is beauty and authenticity is truth.
Identity
Erickson’s stages of psychosocial development focuses on tasks that must be resolved at different stages of development. In adolescence, the task is mastering identity vs. identity confusion. We have many choices to make in life, and it is significant that our choices align with our values. Adolescence is all about figuring out what you believe, who you are, and starting to live out your truth. Teens can often seem rebellious because they are figuring out who they are, and what they believe for themselves.