I wrote about fear only a few days ago, yet this subject came up again in my morning wandering, so here I am.
This morning, however, I was thinking about one of the most subtle but powerful fears: the fear of losing our identity.
We identify ourselves through the combination of many aspects. The way we look, our traits, our culture and roots, our beliefs, what we do and often also what we have.
Knowing who we are is a primordial need and the motivation that drives many actions and choices.
Maybe it's just me, but I find identity a fascinating thing. At the same time, it is my life's starting point and destination. I do what I do because it reflects who I am. But I also do what I do because I want to learn and understand who I am.
Maybe this tension explains why identity is such a fragile thing. People are afraid of losing their identity. Not knowing who we are can be, indeed, scary. So, if we tie our identity to our work, anything that can challenge it will be a threat. If we link our identity to our culture, anything that questions it becomes a threat. And so on.
If you are afraid of a change or innovation, maybe you can check if it's because it challenges how you identify yourself.
And perhaps you will realize that you are more than that, so there's no reason to be afraid.