The Five Lies of Identity (Henry Nouwen)

Finding Truth in a World of Deception

The Identity Crisis We All Face

Who are we? Who are we supposed to be? What happens when the idea of who we want to be doesn't line up with the actuality of who we are? This disconnect often leads to personal chaos, anxiety, and deep feelings of discontentment. So it's natural to try to resolve this tension by determining our identity. The problem occurs when we determine our identity based on external realities rather than internal truths.

We live in a culture obsessed with identity. From personality tests to career choices, from social media profiles to relationship status—everything pushes us to define ourselves. Yet despite all these tools and platforms, many of us still struggle with a fundamental question: Who am I, really?