Member-only story
How to Achieve an Eternal Sense of Identity
The secret to overcoming all insecurity lies in your identity
From the outside, I had a fantastic childhood. Dad had a great job that afforded us all the shiny toys, and mom cooked delicious gourmet meals every day. We had a big house with a large compound where we could run around with the dogs and play every day, as well as a nice car to take me and my siblings to school every morning.
Also from the outside, my childhood was full of embarrassing moments. My parents often fought in public, where the neighbors and their children could hear everything they said. Since I was a young girl, I have always been a very private person. I don’t like people to know all of my business and so I pick and choose what I would like people to know about me. But my parents would stand out in the large compound and let it all out. This bothered me a lot.
I remember when I was 5 or 6, they were fighting so loudly that I hid under the car in the garage to escape. It kind of messed me up. While I never fully processed these things as a child, I know they have had a negative impact on my life. I didn’t feel seen or my parents would have seen how much their constant arguments were hurting me. As an old soul, I was strong and independent. Everyone assumed I was fine. I was struggling every day.
