I recently had a very authentic human experience. I won’t divulge the context, however, I found myself asking this person: Do you know who you are? Their response: Sometimes.
As a rather talkative person I was stunned into silence. That one word answer stopped me in my tracks. I wasn’t expecting this response. As a matter of fact I thought this question would yield a much different answer; one filled with confidence and assurance. Rather, the answer I received (from a rather existential question) was brutal honesty and vulnerability.
I’ve always associated the coming of age story, one’s fulfillment of their very essence tied to youth. As a young child we often associate our identity with those of others, mainly our parents and familiar ties. It is not until young adulthood that we find ourselves exploring more of who we are as we move more freely within this world. However, I think there’s a fallacy in my original thinking. The journey of one’s self does not begin and end in one’s youth.
As a matter of fact, I think we are constantly evolving and finding more about who we are as we live. Life itself is filled with ebbs and flows. Good experiences as well as more challenging ones often shape who we become. The one constant in life is change. Often, we need time to reflect and process these events. For some, it may not take a long to shift and adjust to life changes . However, others may take much longer to process the ups as downs of life and its impact on how one views the world and more importantly how one views themself.
What are your thoughts dear reader? Please share.
Sula 
This topic is something I can wholeheartedly relate to in many ways. With the first being that this topic comes up in therapy sessions with my clients all the time. It is actually sad for me to hear when people say they don’t know who they are & a lot of work is done around exploring where it is stemming from and learning how to process it all. I can go on and on but I feel as though in this world we live in today there are far more opportunities to be alone and to be in our thoughts versus around other people who are pouring words of affirmation into one another. Life is really hard for some people which is why I enjoy being a therapist so that I can support those who truly believe that they know who they are “sometimes” and explore that. ♥️
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Thank you for sharing from your perspective as a therapist! I agree with you wholeheartedly as it relates to life itself being challenging and challenging the need to process and unpack events that may shape who we are and how we view ourselves. Blessings.
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“Don’t wish life was easier, wish you were better”-Bruce Lee. This quote embodies my life because as you mentioned life has ebbs and flows. The many obstacle I’ve been faced with has definitely shaped me. I secretly love and hate the obstacles, but it’s so monumental to overcome them. I am able to identify who I am presently, but my true identity is in my constant evolution.
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I love that last phrase: constant evolution. Thank you so much for sharing, as change is the only constant!
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