What is an Identity Crisis
At some point in life, and often more than once, people moving through a transitional phase will experience an identity crisis. It often produces emotions that are destabilizing, anxiety ridden or confusing, but it does not have to be this way.
Identity crises tend to appear during life transitions which could mean a new role, a major life or career change, or a chapter closing of life coming to a close.
If you experience any of these emotions during a transition it is a clue that your identity may need to evolve. Your identity is rooted in your subconscious, so you may not consciously see the disconnect until you look for it.
Your identity is shaped by two areas:
- Your beliefs, many of which are subconsious
- Your intentions which you can consciously identify
Together, these two area determine how you currently view yourself and what you believe you are capable of doing or accomplishing.
If you prefer to watch instead of read, I’ve also shared this message in a video version of the blog you can check out here.
How Subconscious Beliefs Shape Your Identity
Many of the beliefs influencing your current identity were formed before age eight, which is when critical thinking and reasoning skills begin to develop. Childhood interpretations are often incomplete or wrong; and yet they quietly shape how we view ourselves and our abilities and worth as an adult.
This is where an identity crisis often emerges because subconscious beliefs often cement and reiterate doubts such as:
- I’m not good enough.
- I’m not worthy.
- I can’t do that new thing.
- I’m not that type of person to be so (successful, etc).
These beliefs usually do not make sense to the adult mind and once you recognize the outdated stories your subconscious is running, you are empowered to rewrite them.
You can choose new stories. You can choose stories that empower you to BE the person who can create your new chapter, career or transition.
The Power of Intention and Action
Intentions are incredibly potent. When you set a clear intention, you are essentially telling your subconscious:
“This is who I am becoming.”
Your subconscious listens and opens to the possibility of identity expansion. This is why identity shifts do not come from dreaming about change, they come from deciding and then acting on those intentions.
It is your actions that will have the largest contribution in reshaping your identity because your subconscious observes you taking actions that align with the new identity and this reinforces that you can safely be this new version of yourself.
Why Big Dreams Trigger an Identity Crisis
Identity crises often happen at the moment you come up with an inspired big dream or a new goal.
For example, imagine you want to become a TEDx speaker, but you have never been on a stage. Your subconscious has no reference point for that version of you, so it will resist the idea.
It might resist through feelings of overwhelm, doubt, or even panic. When you experience this type of resistance, it indicates that your identity has not caught up to your vision yet.
How to Move Through Your Identity Crisis Smoothly
In the above example, you could –
- Visualize yourself doing the new thing such as giving a speech on stage. This helps your subconscious believe you are someone who can.
- Start with small steps.
-Speak up in meetings.
-Practice short speeches in front of small groups - Build familiarity. Every small action taken helps to prove to your subconscious that this new identity is possible.
Without taking action, the crisis intensifies. The more you think about the dream without moving toward it, the more your subconscio
Aligned action rather than overthinking is the quickes way to dissolve an identity crisis.
Reclaiming Your Identity Beyond Your Roles
If you are transitioning out of a long-held role, look at the skills you gained rather than the title you held.
You might have developed:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Organization
- Creativity
- Emotional resilience
- Problem-solving
- Mentoring abilities
- Strategic thinking
These skills are portable. They move with you into every new chapter.
Focusing on skills gives your subconscious evidence that you can step into the next version of yourself, without the crisis.
Your Identity Evolves As You Do
Your purpose, your roles, and your impact will change throughout your lifetime and your identity is meant to evolve with you.
Identity crises only emerge when:
- You feel pulled toward something new and
- Your subconscious does not yet believe you can do it.
When you recognize that this is happening, you can:
- Strengthen your self-love and worth
- Take small aligned actions
- Set powerful intentions
- Rewrite the outdated subconscious stories
Remember that your identity is not fixed. It is capable of evolving every time you are inspired to challenge yourself.
