Identity crisis

Identity crises are generated as a result of a lack of knowledge about our capabilities, traits and aptitudes. When we undervalue ourselves and are not proud of the way we perceive ourselves, we seek to reflect ourselves in other people, imitating their image with the aim of finding behavioral patterns that make us project the same thing that these people project in us. The false admiration that arises from a lack of identity is not healthy, because it corrupts our authenticity and highlights our lack of personality and criteria.

During the development of this guide we will be talking about the phenomenon of identity crisis, what it consists of, what factors influence it and what actions we can take to avoid it.

What does the identity crisis consist of?

The identity crisis, as its name suggests, is the phenomenon of not knowing how to identify ourselves with something, not being able to define ourselves socially and spiritually or not being able to find our system of values and principles. People who are going through an identity crisis are generally unable to focus on their goals and desires, since they have not been able to define what they are looking for and what their ideal or future aspirations are.

The identity crisis can arise due to different causes, it can be transitory and short term or it can last for a long time. The way in which we allow ourselves to be impacted by the image of those who have a certain degree of success or who perform the way we would like to perform plays a significant role in how we defend our personality before third parties.

What elements influence the identity crisis?

As we said before, there are several elements that influence us to go through an identity crisis. One of the most important factors is low self-esteem or poor perception of our skills and abilities. It is normal that if we are not happy with the image we think we project, we seek to imitate the image of others we like.

Although this seems coherent, it is counterproductive for our personal development, because it affects the authenticity we project and sooner or later ends up deriving in a lack of coherence between our image and our system of principles and values. You cannot adapt your personality traits to those of other people, these are particular characters of each individual, they are a projection of what you are, not what you want to be.

Imitating someone else's image will not make you be perceived in the same way the person you are imitating is perceived. Authenticity is the most valuable personality trait, it is necessary to learn to value ourselves and perceive to the fullest those elements that make you stand out and show you as a unique being.

How to avoid an identity crisis?

Efforts to avoid an identity crisis should begin by focusing on defining our values and principles, since these are what we project in our daily actions. All of our behavior is impacted and shaped by our moral and ethical beliefs about everyone we interact with. Having clear principles and values will allow you to maintain a consistent image at all times, avoiding being chameleon-like in the face of adversity or the different social groups you interact with.

Work on your self-esteem, learn to know yourself and your aptitudes and relevant traits. We all shine with our own light, you do not need to look like someone you are not, but be clear about who you are and defend it at all times. Learn from other people but don't try to be like them, authenticity will always be better valued than any trait you manage to imitate from someone else.