- Who am I?
- Who am I becoming?
- Do I like what I see?
How we see the evolution of the story of our lives can be influenced by several factors. It is a complex mixture of personal, professional, sociocultural and relational forces that contribute to the definition of personal meaning in our lives. Whoever we are, our identity story is carefully woven through changing commitments, relationships and perspectives. Brimm's research tries to formulate and name certain complex and interconnected sources of personal definition and meaning that can impact on how we shape the next chapters of our lives.
Identity: While the perception of the "professional self" and ability to create and achieve motivational goals may be central to an individual's sense of identity, other life roles and inner experiences of who one is (or becomes) can make a significant contribution to well-being. Key identity constructs may shift in importance and relevance during adolescence. These movements often highlight gaps or changes in self-knowledge, such as a link to cultural and spiritual traditions or values.
For example, the decision to move to working from home may raise questions about whether this strategy allows us to use the skills that are at the core of our identity and ability to contribute meaningfully.
The Relational Self: Our identity and our relationships with others are interconnected. These bonds help us shape and provide an emotional, moral and practical structure to our lives. Being a good enough life partner, child or parent is a key part of the puzzle.
For instance, having children can significantly change a personal definition or meaning in life. It can make us think about transferring core values and sources of meaning to the next generation. Similarly, caring for family and friends, say, reaffirms values and creates rituals and moments that bring order to our lives.
The Belonging Self: This dimension of selfishness raises such questions as: Where do I belong? Do I feel at home here? Does it matter? And so on. For example, the term "home" might mean something different to each of us and evolve over time. The discussion also revolves around whether we are a good enough member of the family if we want to devote ourselves fully to our careers or have other big dreams or projects that give meaning to our lives. After all, these decisions can jeopardise what other family members want or need, and their meaning in life.
The responsible and impactful self: Where and how can I change or influence something? Am I able to reconcile my goals and skills with my values and sense of social responsibility? Most of us want to feel our lives are changing the world for the better. The definition of how this can be done may change over time. According to globally thinking experts, the need and desire to have an impact on global interests is very immediate and the scope (where and how) can be defined globally. On the other hand, according to Brimm, nationalists call globally-minded people "citizens of nothing" with "cosmopolitan bias." Given their ability to see challenges as opportunities, many embark on projects that will allow them to have a global impact or bring an important dialogue on globalisation to what they call home.
Creating a meaningful life is an ongoing process. With each great turn of the kaleidoscope, everyone must integrate the sources of meaning into their decision-making, because changes take place both in the global context and in their personal and professional lives.
Goals created at one stage may be less relevant at some other given moment as there is no clear path to a meaningful life.
Focusing on the above-mentioned life dimensions can help you clarify what is important, especially when you are thinking in which direction you want to go in your next chapter in life.
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