How to Cope With an Identity Crisis: 14 Steps (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

An identity crisis can happen to anyone anywhere. In any situation, an identity crisis is always bad for a person's life because they feel they have lost their identity. Because identity plays a very important role in achieving happiness, an identity crisis can trigger feelings of hopelessness. The good news is that there are several ways to restore your identity so that you can overcome your identity crisis and live a happy life.

Step

Part 1 of 4: Knowing Yourself

Step 1. Work on identifying your identity

The process of searching for identity usually occurs in adolescence. Nowadays, teenagers like to experiment because they want to get to know various personalities and experiment with different virtues from those they have known since childhood. This stage plays an important role in the maturation process because without the search for identity, teenagers will grow up to become adults with an identity that they unconsciously choose. If until now you haven't found out your own identity, do it now! This step is very important to overcome the identity crisis you are experiencing.

Think about the traits and personality traits that have shaped you over the years.
Try to find your core values. What things do you consider important? What are the principles that underlie the way you live your life? How were these things formed and who influenced you to accept these virtues?
Think about whether these virtues and values change with age or are they the same. Change or not, try to find out why your virtues and values have formed the way they are today.

Step 2. Determine what is controlling you

Sometimes a person feels swayed. If you find yourself in this situation, try to find out what is controlling you when you go about your daily activities. For most people, the most decisive thing is the relationship with other people. Friends, family, colleagues and lovers are the people we choose to form relationships with so that they are always around us.

Think about the relationships you find most meaningful. Has this relationship made you better or worse?
After that, think about why the relationship is important to you. Why do you want to be surrounded by these people?
If your life isn't controlled by relationships, what's the point? Is it because you don't like to make friends with other people? Is this what you want or do you really want to change?
Ask yourself honestly if you would still be the same person without your current relationship.

Step 3. Find out your interests

In addition to relationships, personal interest can help many people take control of their lives. Consciously or not, relationships and hobbies/interests take up a lot of free time outside of work or school. Maybe you choose certain interests based on your personality and identity, but it's also possible that your identity is shaped by the interests and hobbies you choose. However, you can understand yourself by understanding these things.

Think about your free time habits. What activities do you usually do according to your interests or hobbies to pass the time and channel energy?
Also think about why this interest is so important to you? Is this interest permanent? Have you started this activity since you were a child or have you just started learning? What is the main reason that you want to develop this interest?
Ask yourself honestly, would you still be the same person without this interest?

Step 4. Visualize the best of your future self

Try practicing visualization by imagining the best of yourself in the days ahead. This can help you define who you are and feel more confident about what kind of person you want to be. This exercise forces you to find out who you are in the moment. When you're done visualizing, write down the best things that are realistic and you can work on to shape your identity.

Take 20 minutes to practice visualization.
Imagine your life in the near future by focusing on certain aspects that will get better in the future.
After that, write down everything you have imagined about yourself in detail.
Think about how to realize your vision of yourself. If you feel hopeless or feel like you're walking aimlessly, try to focus on remembering visualizations of the future you want.

Part 2 of 4: Recovering from Loss or Change

Step 1. Reassess your life

Experiencing loss and change can be frustrating, but it's also an opportunity to evaluate ourselves and what we've done so far. Your plans and dreams five or ten years ago may have changed and you didn't realize this change because you were carried away by your routine and influenced by your environment.

Experiencing a loss or a sudden change in conditions can be an opportunity to reassess and re-evaluate your life so far. For example, there are people who experience grief because of the death of a loved one and finally feel called to stop delaying their long-term plans. Losing a job can also be a source of motivation to find a new job that is more enjoyable and satisfying.
Ask yourself if your plans and core values are still the same as before. If not, try to put the plan into action and apply these values in your daily life.

Step 2. Be prepared to accept change

Many people are afraid of change, especially if they have to experience major changes that affect their lives. Change is not always bad and environmental change is a natural and good thing. Some experts suggest that the opportunity to experience change should be used to adapt and change identities, rather than continuing to resist the inevitable changes.

Ask yourself, in the next ten or twenty years, whether you won't regret missing the opportunity to try new things or do things differently.
Try to find yourself. Try to figure out what you want most in life and try to find a way to achieve it in your current state.
When imagining yourself in the days ahead, don't forget that the person you are imagining is yourself. Don't think that you have to be a different person. Anticipating what will happen will actually make you wiser and more self-aware without denying who you really are.

Step 3. Find another option

People who have been laid off or have lost their jobs/status may experience an identity crisis because they are confused about what to do or feel helpless. Some experts suggest that you try to find other options if you lose a job you love, for example by doing the same job under different conditions.

Try working part time in a field that you enjoy. This position may not be the best, but you can continue to work in a field that you love. This way will make you have a new spirit to achieve certain goals.
Build a network. Job opportunities in certain positions are usually only announced to employees within the company. Networking with professionals in the same field can be very beneficial. By networking, you can find new job opportunities and make you feel part of a community of like-minded professionals.
Form new habits that will help you achieve your goals. Try to make the necessary changes because your life is unlikely to change if you continue to do the habits you have been doing for years.

Part 3 of 4: Cultivating Desire to Achieve Goals

Step 1. Hold on to your core values

The values you believe in greatly determine who you are as a person because they shape your identity in many ways. The easiest way to cultivate a desire to achieve goals in life is to embody the values you have always believed in.

If one of your core values is to be kind and loving to others, do good and love others every day.
If one of your main values is religion, practice worship regularly.
If one of your core values is cultivating a sense of community with your community, start getting to know your neighbors and hold a meeting once a month.

Step 2. Do the activities you enjoy the most

Life will feel very happy if you love work. If your job isn't fun, try finding other activities you enjoy outside of work. Having an activity you really enjoy can make you happier and increase your desire to achieve something.

Start doing what you love and make you happy (as long as these activities are safe and legitimate). There's no reason to put off doing something you really love. Many people make their favorite activity a permanent job. Everything takes effort, but start by finding time to do what makes you happy.
If you don't know what you like, try looking for it. Find inspiration about things that can bring you joy by referring to your core values. Or, find a new hobby, try learning to play music, practice with an instructor, or visit a hobby shop for advice on art-making courses for beginners.

Step 3. Do activities outside the home

Many people feel more energized and happier by doing activities outside the home. There are also those who use outdoor activities as therapy, such as hiking and camping. This therapy can overcome psychological problems and addiction.

Try looking for information on the internet about places that provide facilities for outdoor activities. Make sure you follow all the rules for safety and have someone accompany you if you are not familiar with the activity area

Step 4. Observe your spiritual life

Religion is not a necessity and does not always make a person have the desire to achieve goals. However, there are those who say that religious beliefs and communities can build a sense of connection with something outside of themselves. In fact, daily spiritual practice, such as meditation and calming the mind, has been shown to have a positive effect on a person's psychological well-being.

Try meditating to make your mind more focused. Start by thinking about an intention, for example wanting to focus on yourself or finding your identity/goal. After that, focus on the breath while trying to ignore any thoughts that arise. Breathe in through your nose and focus on the sensations you feel with each inhalation and exhalation. Stay seated as long as you feel comfortable and increase the duration of meditation each time you practice.
Look for information on the internet and read about various religions in the world. Each religion has its own values and beliefs that may be in line with your own.
Try discussing it with a friend or family member who has spiritual insight. They may be able to provide insights and help you learn more about the customs and beliefs of other religions, if you're interested.

Part 4 of 4: Strengthening Self

Step 1. Fix the relationship

Friends, family, and closest people are a source of peace in life for many people. Having good relationships with family and friends will make you feel more at ease because you have an identity through a sense of belonging.

Call or email friends and/or family members. Try to contact people you rarely contact as well as those you see often.
Show your friends and family you care and say that you want to see them.
Make plans to meet up, for example by asking them to drink coffee over a chat, eat together, watch a movie together, or go on an adventure together. Taking the time and working on strengthening your relationship can make you happier and more confident in who you are.

Step 2. Find ways to develop yourself

Whether you've found fulfillment and progress through religion, athletics, philosophy, the arts, travel, or other activities you enjoy, work towards the things that are more important to your personal life. Let yourself be shaped and changed by what you love by experiencing vulnerability. Acknowledge that what you love is worth enjoying and try to do it every day or every week.

Step 3. Strive to achieve something

The best way to give yourself the desire to achieve your goals is to earn praise and be successful in your career. Whatever you do, it will all pay off if you are willing to work hard. Even though life is not just work, work gives us recognition and makes us feel like we have a purpose in life.