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Identity is one of those issues which is far reaching. It came up at one of the Philosophical Salons recently and has been an ongoing point of dialogue ever since...
One person's thoughts were that mostly identity is seen through what one does for a living...a doctor, housewife, teacher, secretary .... within which comes attachments of success, failure etc Another through their relationships with others ... a mother, sister, grandfather ... There is gender identity, national identity, identity through fashion statements, appearances, age identity like...I am middle aged...they are an elderly person .... and then there is health identity - like 'he has cancer'..'she is a health freak' etc and on and on....even down to what football team one supports!
And all of these perhaps have a bearing on how we view ourselves. Perhaps the most important aspect is how that identity or self view affects our well being and sense of self worth - does it liberate us into being more ourselves or begin to box or diminish our possibility. This is where it ceases to be a 'philosophical' concept and becomes an intrinsically important part of living a progressive and satisfying life.
It was interesting too to hear more personal reflections as to what had become the most significant aspect to us as individuals...for example one lady felt that it was to do with the quality of her relations with others...this for her was the most significant aspect of her own identity ....and another felt it was to do with what qualities she grew in herself .. like to what degree her life was part of the growth of kindness, compassion and humanity in the world.
One of the Philosophical Salon evenings recently explored the upside of difficult times. We discussed how when times are really hard..for example when good health goes from being reliable to uncertain..or we go through life changing events, a difficult mid life crisis, relationship breakdowns ...whatever life throws at us ... it can really break down our sense of identity.
At the time, this can be pretty shattering on top of whatever problems one is dealing with ... when we just do not seem to recognize ourselves any more ...but coming out the other side, it can look quite different. In fact, it can be really quite liberating ! So much of our future possibility is governed by our self view, and when this gets fragmented, it can open up a whole new world of opportunity!
I've always loves the idea 'the Philosophical Salon' - an idea from around 100 years where people would meet together to exchange ideas... pre -internet and electronic communications, they usually happened in people's drawing rooms - often in the European Capitals like Paris or London - and would include people from lots of different backgrounds....philosophers, musicians, artists, doctors, writers. The occasions were social, but with style ... and it was understood the conversation went a bit deeper than the weather !!
Inspire by this, I've recently organised gatherings at home with people who like to exchange about life, and its meanings ... and have had around five get togethers so far.
I thought I mights start to write up some of the ideas and issues which have arisen...as a kind of inspirational diary !
