When Identity Encounters Change!
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- August 19, 2023
Most of us are familiar with Jack Welch’s famous quote “The only constant in life is Change”, but only few of us really understand the effect of that change on our identities.
This happens in different aspects of our lives, for instance, some wives who have been married for a long time and suddenly realise they have outgrown the marriage or mothers who have been nesting and suddenly their children have to leave for collage and they don’t do anything else other than being a mom. Thus, many of us at one point of our lives will experience when we forget who we are or what we can do when a sudden change happens or has to happen. Then the big question that keeps lingering in our minds “Who am I?”.
What I have realised is that our who isn’t static. Our who grows with us just like our physical bodies. So, we need to be aware of that change to be able to pivot to the next level. The other thing that I realised that it does not boil down to one identity. We all carry out different roles in our lives as we grow and these roles grow with us. Whether you’re a mother, a wife or an executive. We all have to change to fit into these different sets of identities.
As research has found that it’s a problem that nearly everyone struggles with. Apparently one in every three people avoid change if they can and some even fail to change if they have to. I personally went through this when I wanted to go back to the workforce and I didn’t know what should I do or even what can I do after all this time. I have been a mother and wife for a long time that I didn’t know how to carry this identity forward with what I wanted to do. Plus, I didn’t know how to create anything with the current identity that I had been carrying all this time.
As I was struggling with this journey I discovered that I needed both clarity and support to guide me to what I was meant to do. Here are a few pointers that helped me out.
- Reflection: your inside needs to align with your outside. No one knows you more than yourself, so take the time to check if you are on the right track. As they say Knowledge is power but knowledge about self is self-empowerment.
- The buy-in of the circle of care: these are the people who care about you the most, your spouse, children, friends. Just like in any company, they are your stakeholders, if you don’t get their buy in it won’t work.
- Support groups: These are like-minded people, who either have the same vision or the same interests. These are the people who you might meet at a networking event, a course, or a workshop.
- Seek professional help: coaches and mentors who are equipped with the knowledge and experience in different aspects of life whether its business or personal. As they say asking for help isn’t giving up, its refusing to give up.
Embracing change requires courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to explore the uncharted territory of self-discovery. It’s about finding the thread that ties our past, present, and future together, weaving a narrative that is true to our evolving selves.
As we embark on this journey, let us embrace change with open hearts and open minds. Let us view it as an opportunity to shed old skin and step into the light of self-awareness. The question “Who am I?” is not a challenge; it’s an invitation to explore the depths of our potential and to shape our identity beyond circumstances.
With introspection and anticipation – Raida Al Lamki
