Identity Recalibration in Uncertain Times

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As individuals navigate significant life transitions, such as graduating from school or adjusting to unexpected changes, they commonly grapple with questions about their identity and self-worth. The process of recalibrating one's sense of self becomes crucial, as life experiences can challenge previous conceptions of value and belonging. The societal expectation to define oneself through roles, such as occupation or education, often leads to a distorted sense of worth based on external validation. Engaging in conversations about identity with knowledgeable professionals can provide guidance and clarity, emphasizing that inherent value is not contingent upon societal judgments or achievements.

“What am I doing with my life? Where am I going?” During this isolated time, many of us are having to readjust our identities because our visions for what life was supposed to look like completely shifted -- and so perhaps has the locus of our self-worth. Dr. Meag-gan O'Reilly is a licensed Staff Psychologist at Stanford University's Counseling and Psychological Services. In this episode, she offers helpful frameworks for cultivating a life --and society-- that can better recognize the basic intrinsic value of each person. Dr. O’Reilly’s research interests focus on social class, college student mental health, resilience, and multicultural identities, particularly gender and ethnicity. She also operates a private practice in downtown Palo Alto, Inherent Value Psychology, in which she provides clinical services to Silicon Valley professionals. To learn more about "How to Be a Better Human," host Chris Duffy, or find footnotes and additional resources, please visit: go.ted.com/betterhuman