The Great Millennial Identity Crisis

What do you do? In our modern world we constantly strike up conversation with this simple question. It’s easy, right to the point, and eliminates any awkward quietness between people just meeting for the first time. We are bombarded by this question, day in and day out, over and over again until we have it scripted like an auto-response or spell-check on an iPhone.

We begin subconsciously valuing what we do, what we can do, or what we have more than who we really are. We have transitioned into existing as consumers instead of living in freedom, trying to purposefully impact the world around us. This is the great millennial identity crisis, and it seems to be motivated by comparison.

Our job is the example I used above, but it doesn’t stop there. We have grown up in an ever changing world with technology giving us tremendous access at our fingertips. We find ourselves sucked into Instagram and other social media platforms, scrolling through our feeds looking indepthly into other peoples lives.

We instantly can compare ourselves using self-sabotaging measurements: job, income, net worth, car, clothes, brands, body image, status, and even talents.

We measure ourselves this way because it is easy. These are highly tangible and quantifiable aspects of our lives, but we end up trying to accumulate more and more to gain self-worth and fulfillment. These measurements are now not measurements, they become who we are. The millennial identity crisis is defined.

My Millennial Identity Crisis

I felt overwhelmed, fearful, anxious, imperfect, and was looking for happiness in the wrong places. A lost millennial wanting to make a difference in the world, busy comparing myself to others that seemed to be having more success, trying to live up to impossible standards with my body image, career path, bank account, among countless others.

How to Measure Identity

What I’ve done, and am still trying to do each and everyday is define myself not by external factors and quantifiable measurements, but by my own unique values, beliefs and characteristics. I’m now trying to measure my self-worth with the love I share with other people, my gratitude expressed for everyday aspects of life, and how purposeful I can be with my actions in a meaningful way to serve others.

It’s no longer how much money I earn, what car I drive, what clothes I wear, or my physical appearance. After this realization, I was finally able to fully enjoy my life, no longer overwhelmed by the idea of being perfect. I was proud of my scars, literally and figuratively, which symbolize perfect imperfection.

Your True Identity

3 Steps to Finding Your Identity and Purpose

1. Clearly define your values, beliefs, characteristics, and even our past perceived identity. This takes vulnerability to explore some deeper rooted issues in your life and expose some skeletons in your closet.
2. Begin using your values as your new metrics which you can use for everlasting fulfillment.
3. Continually grow in self-awareness and understanding, truly becoming who you really are and building a new life from there with tremendous freedom and fulfillment.

If we can do this then we can spend more time sharing and spreading joy, love, peace, and patience. We can value the right aspects of our lives, and we can understand that our money, talents, and gifts (formerly used as measurements for success) can be used as tools to make a positive impact on the world.

We are changing the story of ourselves, answering the questions, “Who am I? Am I happy?” With this, the millennial identity crisis is evaded.