We may think that the quest for personal identity is confined to the delicate period of adolescence. But identity is something that shifts and grows throughout life as we confront new challenges and tackle different experiences.
During our journey from youth to early adulthood, we embark on an intensive analysis and exploration of different ways of living our life, which often lead to major decisions.
In our quest for existential meaning, we contemplate our life’s crucial decisions, including career, values or vocational roles.
Developmental psychologist Erik Erikson believed that the formation of identity was one of the most important parts of a person’s life.
But as we advance into adulthood and sharpen our cognitive abilities we are able to contemplate on a deeper level our life’s purpose. Our life choices are no longer influenced by peer pressure or our parents’ expectations. They are no longer swayed by contemporary ideologies that mass media rolls out as quick-fix solutions for attaining utmost happiness and life fulfilment.
Our quest for identity is driven by our own personal conviction of what gives life meaning, our ‘belief system’, our spiritual essence, our own unique life’s experiences and our religion.
Recent developments in the field of sociology suggest a gradual and growing tendency towards the revival of interest on the issue of religion and identity. Religion and identity may be positively correlated especially in the context of the exploration of the self.
Many assume that we live out our spirituality through some kind of formalised religion. This view is illusive and tends to inhibit our search for authentic identity. In essence we are spiritual beings called to live out our personal and unique divine calling precisely in our humanity, within the context of a wider community of believers, the Church.
Religion offers a deep sense of unity and is directly linked with the formation of identity. But forming identity is highly related with the internalisation of religious commitment.
As Christians we are called to a life of unity and order, not to a life fragmented by a mixture of identities
If religion remains a set of formalised rituals and is not translated in an authentic life experience of faith, hope and love practised in our daily life through divine grace and prayer, then religion itself could prove to be the biggest hindrance or alienation to our spiritual growth.
We form our identity after we have freely explored different identities. But finally we bring about foreclosure by committing and engaging ourselves to one belief system that we are convinced is the authentic way to find meaning in life.
Without an internalised firm commitment, one would simply slip into a state of indifference towards any identity.
Our quest for identity is infused with our spiritual quest. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
As Christians we uphold our quest for our authentic spiritual path through an unwavering commitment to a life of prayer and an intimate relationship with the living Christ. This translates into a contemplative discernment of our choices, seeking the divine will in everything, and living life with meaning and purpose.
As Christians we are called to a life of unity and order, not to a life fragmented by a mixture of identities. It proves very difficult to establish true intimacy in any relationship if our own identity is weak. Finding our true identity means we abandon any image of ourselves that is not from God. We stop accepting what others say about us or how others label or define us.
We discover our true identity in Christ not simple by human effort, but by the Holy Spirit within us. “He has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:22). The Holy Spirit guides us to discover our unique identity by the grace of spiritual consolations that affirm our faith convictions, that help us to move forward in God’s chosen path.
We are not defined by our feelings, circumstances, successes or failures or by the car we drive or the money we make. We are defined by God and God alone, who “identifies us as his own” (2 Corinthians 1:22).
gordon@atomserve.net
Gordon Vassallo is an accredited spiritual guide at the Centre of Ignatian Spirituality.