Who Are You? The Spiritual Practice of Identity

Last updated on: February 2, 2025 at 9:02 am by Rob Giannamore

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Who Are You? The Spiritual Practice of Identity 2025-02-02T09:02:32-05:00 Rob Giannamore

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I have spent the last few posts considering a thoughtful reaction to the rapid changes that are happening in the American landscape. I am aware that there are other places around the world that are also facing tough political and societal shifts.

For this second post, I want to spend some time considering how you are doing? One of the constant topics I am dealing with in the office each day (I am a therapist), is identity.

I was talking to one of my daughters recently, she was accepted to a college and for her it was a relief as she now feels she has some direction. I have had a sense for some time that she has felt like a failure since graduating high school two years ago and without saying it outright, her emotional posture confirmed this in our conversation. She was a COVID high schooler and she only had one real year of high school before everything was shut down. An article I read a few months ago noted that it may take full generation, k –12 before we see a return to “normal”. My point here is that if things are going sideways for you in your life, persevere, it will get better, maybe not in the ways you expect, but better. I have seen this for years as a clinician. My own story of losing my career in my late 20’s and rebuilding it in my late 30’s is an example.

Jesus Tells us Not to Worry.

The Bible contains numerous stories that can be interpreted in various ways to support different narratives. From a contemporary standpoint, this presents a challenge, as we are no longer an oral society that shares stories and interprets their meanings collectively. I recall a poignant story my grandfather once shared about finding a left-handed glove during his morning walk. Although it appeared insignificant, he brought the glove home. When my grandmother questioned why he had brought it back, he responded that he did so in case he ever needed a left-handed glove.

The Bible emphasizes multiple times how humanity is loved by God. In the act of creation, God declares it as “very good.” The Psalms frequently reflect on God’s abundance and grace. Furthermore, the narrative of Jesus focuses on demonstrating God’s love for humanity, culminating in his crucifixion and subsequent triumph over death.

Jesus tells us not to worry in Mathew 6:25-34. Here, we can boil his words down to the Eastern idea of impermanence. In the ever-changing landscape of life, the concept of impermanence serves as a poignant reminder of the transient nature of our experiences and circumstances. Much like the teachings and reflections that guide us through tumultuous times, acknowledging impermanence helps us maintain a sense of identity and purpose despite the inevitable changes we face.

Mindfulness and faith, as spiritual practices, anchor us in the present moment, reinforcing our inherent value and providing a sense of unwavering love. This understanding fosters resilience, enabling us to navigate beyond the shifting sands of societal expectations and personal challenges. In recognizing that all things are temporary, we can embrace a perspective that encourages growth and transformation.

Impermanence teaches us to cherish the fleeting moments, to find beauty in the ephemeral, and to appreciate the journey rather than fixate on the destination. By transcending limiting labels or diagnoses, we come to appreciate the profound lesson that change, though constant, also brings opportunities for renewal and rebirth.

You are not your diagnosis

I was scrolling through Facebook and Instagram this morning looking for inspiration for this post and came across a reel that emphasized what I tell my clients all the time, “you are not your diagnosis.” You are however, God’s beloved. Carefully crafted, loved and cared for, God will never abandon you.

As we journey through life, it is essential to remember that we are not defined by our struggles or the labels society places upon us. Embracing a spiritual practice of self-awareness allows us to see beyond the transient challenges we face, offering a more profound understanding of our true identity. By cultivating mindfulness and recognizing the impermanent nature of our experiences, we can rise above the constraints of our diagnoses and see ourselves as more than our conditions. In this light, each day presents a fresh opportunity to align with our true selves, to move in harmony with the ebb and flow of life, and to embrace the divine love that continually surrounds us.

The Spiritual Practice of You

In a previous post, I wrote about the spiritual practice of you. We are all a work in progress, on a path of becoming. Society, especially since the dawn of social media has been busy crafting and cultivating false senses of self. Influencers with unrealistic body types and unrealistic training regimens. Diets that are unsustainable and messages that undermine our self-worth. All of this messaging creates a larger-than-life avatar of who we are “supposed to be” and places our true selves in the shadows.

In my post, I talked about shadow work. Navigating the complexities of identity in such a turbulent world requires both courage and compassion. As we peel back the layers of external expectations and societal pressures, we can begin to truly understand and appreciate our inherent worth. Embracing our identity as beloved creations of God invites us to celebrate our uniqueness and inherent value, even in the face of adversity. Through the practice of mindfulness and self-awareness, we can start to dismantle the narratives that have bound us and step into the light of our true selves, where love and acceptance reside. By recognizing the transient nature of our challenges and understanding the deeper truths of our existence, we equip ourselves with the resilience needed to thrive. I understand from my side of the chair how hard this is if you have lived in a world and family, school or societal system that has wounded your sense of self to your core.

Love who God sees you as, God’s beloved.

You are worth it.

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