IDENTITY CHRIST-is (Identity Crisis Ninang?)
We are and then we’re maybe not. We think but others don’t. We see but others can’t. We feel and then we doubt. We do and now ask why. Have you wondered if our identity is plainly a figment of our imagination?
Identity Crisis, coined and experienced by German psychologist Erik Erickson is
“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.”
Identity crisis usually happens during adolescence when individuals try to “find themselves” as they become confused of who they really are, who they want to become, and where they want to go. I suppose adolescence do not have this phenomenon exclusively. Middle-aged people have this as well— hence the midlife crisis… hence mine.
When someone expresses we should speak differently, think differently, act in a manner befitting their own, we pause. Many just shrug it off. But when every group you belong to start to have new and higher expectations of you (even yourself!); and you’re at your height of emotional (hormonal Ninang?) challenges, you get shoved into an “identity crisis”… again. Who am I? Who do I really want to be? Where do I really want to Go?
A friend a few months back asked me how am I able to handle it all (my roles and responsibilities)? I said just getting and giving a Bit of everything, and hopefully it’s enough. Well it started not being enough. Confusion. Not as good as a teacher should be. Not as good as a doctor should be. Not as good as a mother, a wife, a friend, a leader. Not as wise. Not as creative. Not as dedicated. Not as committed. Not enough points as a researcher. Not available. Not enough. Snip. Sniff. 😢
There was a point recently when I asked my husband, how can I edit my life? It just dawned on me (now!). Comparing. That’s what I should edit.
I guess our identity should not lie on what we have or what we can do Compared to what others have and what they can do. Lest we take ourselves too seriously and boast about what we have if we’re better. Or feel insecure if we’re not as good. We must feel good as we are and enjoy every bit of thing we can. Until they fire us. If we don’t meet their standards. Then we have one problem less (Yay!).
A little of everything. Jack of all trades, master of none. A broad-spectrum individual. Just cruising through life. Just cruising. I like that. Lest I take myself too seriously and boast about what I have. I think I feel better.
Maybe overcoming identity crisis means thinking less of the future. There is this story I read in gradeschool that stuck in my mind and once in a while I return to it when I get confused. The story talks of a lonely young man who has gone through hills and valleys, crossed rivers, and braved forests in search of the most important person, the most important time, the most important place, and the most important goal. Until he reached a wise man living in a small cottage who asked him to cook food for him as he is not able to do it for himself anymore. They both enjoyed the food, spent time conversing with each other and the young lad never felt better. Then he remembered his questions. And the wise old man said, “the answer is easy and wouldn’t you agree? Of all the people, places, time and goal, the most important place is where you are, the most important time is Now, the most important person is the one next to you, and the most important goal is making that person happy.” It helps me forget why I wrote this article in the first place. Oh yes! My identity crisis.
It will be a lie if I say we do not need to know our “Identity” in order to be happy or make people happy. But if our identity lies on the standards of others (and yourself) then crisis will surely ensue. Who better to say who you are than our Maker. What better way to say who we are than what our Maker has done for us.
And if you don’t believe (in God who created us) and think we are just really a random conglomeration of atoms and a product of ruthless selection then you should still feel good knowing identity doesn’t matter at all! (Random beings- woah! Yikes!)
But if you believe in a Creator, then know He is the only one who can truly define your identity. And no matter what you think of you, it doesn’t matter. For you are precious enough for His Son Jesus to die on the Cross and save you from sin… and hopefully, identity crisis. Good to know that nevertheless.
– Ninang Identity CHRIST-is thoughts
“You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.” (1 Corinthians 7:23-24)
“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:10-11)
CHRIST IS ENOUGH
(Hillsong Worship)
“Christ is my reward
And all of my devotion
Now there’s nothing in this world
That could ever satisfy
And all of my devotion
Now there’s nothing in this world
That could ever satisfy
Through every trial
My soul will sing
No turning back
I’ve been set free
My soul will sing
No turning back
I’ve been set free
Christ is enough for me
Christ is enough for me
Everything I need is in You
Everything I need
Christ is enough for me
Everything I need is in You
Everything I need
Christ my all in all
The joy of my salvation
And this hope will never fail
Heaven is our home
The joy of my salvation
And this hope will never fail
Heaven is our home
Through every storm
My soul will sing
Jesus is here
To God be the glory
My soul will sing
Jesus is here
To God be the glory
Christ is enough for me
Christ is enough for me
Everything I need is in You
Everything I need
Christ is enough for me
Everything I need is in You
Everything I need
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back
No turning back
No turning back
No turning back
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back
No turning back (the cross)
No turning back
No turning back (the cross)
The cross before me
The world behind me
No turning back
No turning back
The world behind me
No turning back
No turning back
The cross before me
The world behind me
No turning back
No turning back
The world behind me
No turning back
No turning back
Christ is enough for me
Christ is enough for me
Everything I need is in You
Everything I need (Christ is enough)
Christ is enough for me
Everything I need is in You
Everything I need (Christ is enough)
IDENTITY CHRIST-IS…Enough.
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
Ninang ko Po!! 