Adapting to life’s challenges by discovering your true identity is a journey that resonates deeply with everyone, regardless of their beliefs. We all crave a sense of belonging, purpose, and worth. Consider this perspective as a powerful invitation to explore the depths of your own existence:
According to Catholic psychologist Dr. Gerry Crete, we all share these fundamental human needs:
- Need to feel safe
- Need to feel seen and known
- Need to feel comfort
- Need to feel valued
- Need to feel encouraged
When these needs aren’t met, we often internalize negative thoughts and beliefs about ourselves. We begin to question our worth, doubting our abilities, and feeling disconnected from our true selves.
From a Catholic viewpoint, there’s a profound truth that transcends individual circumstances: your inherent worth as a cherished, adopted child of God. Regardless of past experiences or societal standards, your value is unshakable and rooted in your identity as a beloved creation of God. This truth empowers you to embrace your unique gifts and talents, recognizing that they’re expressions of your worth – not measures of it.
At the same time, life inevitably presents challenges—traumas that shake your sense of worthiness and belonging. Whether it’s bullying, loss, financial hardship, health issues or betrayal, these experiences can leave you searching for solace and control. You may turn to various coping mechanisms, some healthy, others detrimental, in an attempt to numb the pain or regain a sense of security.
But here’s the crucial insight: none of these external sources can fill the void of unworthiness within us in the long run. They fail to address this fundamental lie beneath our trauma—that we are unworthy or unlovable. In response to this failure, we may make vows to shield ourselves from further hurt, inadvertently stunting our emotional growth and hindering our ability to form fulfilling relationships.
Yet, amid this turmoil, there is hope—a pathway to healing and restoration. By nurturing a relationship with God, you embark on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Through this sacred bond with God, you recognize your inherent worthiness and embrace your true identity with confidence and grace.
This relationship serves as a secure anchor in life’s storms, enabling you to build healthy connections with others and with yourself. Freed from the shackles of unworthiness, fear and insecurity, you can authentically engage with the world, pursuing meaning and purpose with courage.
In essence, God is the constant reminder of our infinite worth and boundless potential. Embracing this truth transforms our life’s journey into an exhilarating adventure, where we challenge the lies that once held us captive and embrace the radiant truth of our divine identity.
Consider the profound impact on your confidence, calm and capacity to love when you establish your worth and true identity on the all-powerful and loving creator of the universe rather than on the shifting people, events and circumstances of your life. The difference is like night and a day; a life lived with despair and depression or incredible hope and healing.
God is our father. The creator of our identity. He sent his son Jesus Christ to show us who we are and could become. By following Jesus’ example of accepting and trusting our heavenly father’s love above all things, we can have the belonging, purpose and worth we desperately want.
And nothing in this world will feel insurmountable.
The Radical Catholic 
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