Common sense dictates that each person is unique. However, there are times when we no longer recognize who we are. It’s not that we look in the mirror and see someone else, it’s that our actions reflect those of someone else. What happens when we’re different from who we are?

I don’t recognize myself: what does that mean?

You say it when you have unusual actions and ways of thinking – It’s also the case when you feel you’re doing the opposite of what you should be doing.

It also means that you’re living a life that doesn’t suit you – You feel deep down that you deserve more, or that you’re better off.

Maybe you feel like you’re in a race against time – And that you’re heading straight for disaster – “I don’t recognize myself anymore” can also mean :

I don’t like my life
I want to be myself
I want to make my own decisions
I need a break

What happens when we’re different from ourselves?

We act frantically, forgetting the consequences – Sometimes we think we’re doing the right thing, sometimes we feel we’re doing the wrong thing.

We’d like to change things, but we don’t take the time to think – We just go with the flow, hoping things will work themselves out.

Decisions are made impulsively – Mistakes become more and more frequent – Over time, you develop a permanent sense of guilt and anxiety.

You tire more quickly, and simple tasks seem increasingly difficult – It becomes difficult to listen to your thoughts and speak from the heart – What’s more, you begin to tire of certain things and lose your motivation.

What can I do if I don’t recognize myself anymore?

GET TO KNOW YOURSELF BETTER
Your identity can’t disappear just because you’ve felt different for a while – Who you are stays with you no matter what – You’re a book waiting to be read.

Do some personal introspection to get to know yourself better – What do you like to do as a hobby? What are your passions? What do you think you’re good at? What’s your favorite book, film or artist? All this information will help you piece together your identity, puzzle by puzzle.

To find out who you are, take an interest in what other people think of you – Although the most important thing is what you think of yourself, other people’s opinions can be a valuable source of information – People close to you may think you’re a perceptive person, which may be true.

I don’t recognize myself anymore – What can I do? To get to know yourself better, you can keep a diary in which you record your interests, skills and even feelings – This way, you can keep track of your thoughts and come back to them if you feel lost again.

SPENDING TIME ALONE
It’s in moments of solitude that we best reconnect with ourselves – We all need solitude at one time or another, especially when we no longer know who we are – There’s no better therapist than you with yourself.

It’s in moments of solitude that we question ourselves, become more realistic and rational, and learn to listen to ourselves – No one can tell you who you are but you.

So get out of the social box and make an appointment with yourself – This will allow you to reflect, experiment with new ideas and experience new feelings – In the end, you’ll have a better understanding of yourself and the situations you find yourself in.

I DON’T RECOGNIZE MYSELF ANYMORE: DETERMINE WHAT YOU VALUE
We also define ourselves by what we value in life – For example, the values you uphold or the type of personality you like – If you value honesty, you may be an honest person.

What you stand for is a reflection of who you really are – For example, if you’re more attracted to funny people, this information could be part of your identity – Once you’ve identified your values, you can strive to live your life according to them.

I DON’T RECOGNIZE MYSELF ANYMORE; CHALLENGE YOURSELF
There’s no age to challenge yourself, especially when it comes to self-improvement – This type of challenge forces you to get to know yourself better – What’s more, challenging yourself forces you to tap into other facets of yourself that you never knew existed.

Teenagers are the most tempted by challenges – At this time, challenges can give a considerable boost to the rest of your life – Some discover new talents, others get a better idea of the person they want to become – But don’t worry, even as adults, we can still challenge ourselves and get to know ourselves better.

To give you some inspiration, an example of a challenge might be to travel alone, learn a new language, take up a new sport, indulge in creative exercises like writing or painting, or develop a new skill.

PRACTICING MINDFULNESS
You probably don’t recognize yourself anymore because everything is moving too fast – In fact, you’re trying to adapt to everything that’s happening to you, and you may feel that you’re different from usual.

Try to interrupt this rush with mindfulness – Live in the present moment for a while and stop worrying about the past or the future – This exercise allows you to reconnect with yourself and recharge your batteries – It only takes a few minutes to practice mindfulness.

This exercise will enable you to be more attuned to your thoughts, needs, desires and emotions – At the same time, it will help you remember who you really are.

I DON’T RECOGNIZE MYSELF: BE AUTHENTIC
When you feel you’re losing your identity, it’s urgent to become authentic – No more acting to please others – Authenticity is the key to regaining your identity.

Be true to yourself and to others – In other words, avoid doing the opposite of what you want to do – Learn to make thoughtful decisions – Be bold and make your own decisions – If you feel you’re becoming someone else to please others, take control of the situation by becoming yourself again.

What not to do

There are also attitudes and behaviors to avoid if you don’t want to lose yourself even more – Here are a few of them:

1 – NEGLECTING ACTIVE REFLECTION
We all know that it’s hard to think when you feel lost – But active reflection is the best thing you can do – It helps you understand your thoughts and emotions.

If you find it hard to think, you can start by meditating to calm your thoughts – I recommend transcendental meditation to manage your emotions and direct your energy flow.

By sitting and thinking positively, you’ll find solutions to your problem – By ignoring reflection, your emotions and thoughts will continue to make life difficult.

2 – RUNNING AWAY FROM DIFFICULT EMOTIONS
Along the same lines as the previous tip, you should try to understand the emotions you feel, even the most difficult ones – While surfing the Internet, I came across a story about a woman who said her relationship had been on the rocks for some time – But it wasn’t until she was willing to face reality that she found herself again.

Avoid repressing your thoughts and emotions – They are markers of your current situation – And to cope better with this situation, you need to understand emotions, even the most difficult ones.

I don’t recognize myself anymore: First recognize what you’re feeling.

3 – COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS
In order to rediscover who they are, some people measure their worth against that of others – This is the worst thing to do in this situation – Firstly, because nobody is like you, and secondly, because it will make you much sadder.

Everyone has their own path and their own challenges – What you’re going through right now, you won’t find anywhere else but within yourself.

4 – BLINDLY FOLLOWING THE EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS
Some people blindly follow the expectations of others out of desperation or lack of purpose – It’s a semblance of meaning to their lives.

Take the time to discover your own aspirations and follow them – If you feel you live only for others, redefine your priorities – Set goals for yourself, whatever your age or current situation – It’s never too late to do what you want to do.

Think about your well-being and happiness – By following your aspirations, you’ll find who you are.

5 – I DON’T RECOGNIZE MYSELF ANYMORE: NEGLECTING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
We never stop growing – There are always new experiences, new things to learn – Personal development is a lifelong process – When you neglect your personal development, you put your life on hold – The feeling you’re experiencing is the result of a lack of maintenance.