Tag: <span>identity crisis</span>

Walking at my favorite hiking trail, I spied a large bird atop a great pine tree. Four times smaller in size was a pesky bluejay, which held its ground in the presence of the hawk. A pecking fight ensued regarding the jay’s nest of tiny eggs, and instinct dictated a need for mother to protect her helpless unborn. Without questioning or wavering, she attempted to irritate the red-tail into flying away. After some time the blue jay chased the hawk away. It dawned on me — that small creature never doubted her identity as a mom. Pastor Bob Brown wrote a booklet, “Don’t Forget Who you Are.” What a sobering possibility that men have — we can forget who we are. Are you kidding me? I can forget who I am? Yes, a bird never does, but I often do. In fact, I may have never ever realized who I…

  The Mirriam Webster dictionary describes an identity crisis as “A feeling of unhappiness and confusion caused by not being sure of what type of person you really are or what the true purpose of your life is.” The Free dictionary says it this way; “A psychosocial state or condition of disorientation and role confusion occurring especially in adolescents as a result of conflicting internal and external experiences, pressures and expectations  and often producing acute anxiety” Theorist Erik Erikson coined the term “identity crisis.” He said “it is a time of intensive analysis and exploration of different ways of looking at oneself.” He described “identity” as: …a subjective sense as well as an observable quality of personal sameness and continuity, paired with some belief in the sameness and continuity of some shared world image.” James Marcia said, “The balance between identity and confusion lies in making a commitment to an…