Whooooo are you?
Identity (in social science): the qualities, beliefs, personality, looks and/or expressions that make a person (self-identity) or group (particular social category or social group). … A psychological identity relates to self-image (one’s mental model of oneself), self-esteem, and individuality.
“Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.”
― Lewis Carroll , Alice in Wonderland
The age old question. Who are you?
Now we don’t have to get as creepy as the Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland (jeez, what a trippy movie…) but the question does open up almost a black hole.
This, first of all has a matter of interpretation attached, and then the actual answer to the question.
Is identity about where you are from, city wise, or your nationality. How far back with nationality do you go back? Do you identify yourself as white or Caucasian, Asian, black, all of the above. Are you allowed to even label yourself something that isn’t socially acceptable?
“Which way you ought to go depends on where you want to get to…”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Is identity what you do? Are you a student…do you work for a company…are you a mother? Are you possibly all three? Is it based on relationships you have with other people? Can you be more than one thing? Who accepts what we choose to identify as?
Identity is a twisted web. A concoction. An amalgam. An assortment of options.
Some of these labels are earned. Some are acquired by time. And sometimes labels are unwanted. We are also able to shed some identity labels; whether it is from memory loss, choice, or again time and/or earning.
The truth is that everyone is looking for this answer. An answer that can’t be the “right” one. Why do we place so much power into these labels? Why can’t we just be?
“If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does.”
― Lewis Caroll, Alice in Wonderland
One can only start to understand what identity could mean when they are self-aware though. I am no one to say that identity is important to identify, but it does seem as if everyone is on a quest to find who they are. It is when those with inflated self-image mess it up for the rest of us.
“People who don’t think shouldn’t talk”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
In the end, it is an individual decision and the power of self-awareness than can back up that opinion of who you are. It is important to note that it is a journey of discovery. There is no right way.
“If you don’t know where you are going it doesn’t matter which road you take.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
