Identity and Self Worth - Extreme Scenario

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT

What if your country were invaded and you had to flee for your life. In the chaos you get separated from your family, and you wind up in a refugee camp in a foreign country surrounded by strangers.

What do you have left?

Let's see... hmm... I'd have my life, my strength to keep going and protect myself, my wits to help me hopefully find a way out of the situation, my willingness to keep going and to try to make things better. I'd still be me, and that has a lot of value. My "me"-ness is the most important thing that I have.

I would have the hope of finding them to keep me going.

I approached this from a different direction than others. I considered what physical object I would have. And it's my fetish, a small piece of sandstone potshard I found while canoeing on the New River in Va. Coincidentally, i showed it to my PDOC today and told her it keeps me in contact with an ancient civilization.

I would still have me. I think the whole point of self worth is to have it within yourself and not be getting it from people around you, possessions, job, etc. We get value & satisfaction from all of those (I love my little antique diamond ring!), but we need to develop a core. That is something no one can take away from you. If I was naked & alone on a desert island, I would still have me. Warts & all, yeah, but ME. My personality, my mind, my emotions, all the stuff that's me.

Just having this inside you can see you through a lot of life's crap - just the knowledge that no one can take it away from you can give you lots of strength.

Added: I hope this makes sense. What I'm trying to say is I get my strength from within myself, not from outside. So no matter where I am, it's still there.

Ike - I think you should change your title to Aztec warrior , when the time comes.

Faith - which if properly used can give you a lot, courage and strength and even humor, enough to share with others.


CE I looked for your entry but didn't see it yet. care to share?

Separated from my family is where I am now. It's my only hope of survival. They've been like a millstone around my neck this whole time. I've finally found freedom.

I don't see the separation from family or country as the worst things that could happen to me.

Unbelievers can be at a disadvantage in a case like this...
I envy those who can draw strength from faith.

I'm still working on this.

I'd have my memories. I'd have my past.
I've known people who were worth knowing and loved people who were worth loving. I've done things that were worth doing. I've made some good choices and I've overcome some hardships.

I have a sexual identity and an intellectual identity. I have a historical perspective. I know what I believe.

I fear, though, that these would be pale and cold consolations without anyone to love me.

How do you know you could not find happiness among the strangers?

Iwould stillhave my strong faith in God.Hopefully I would still have my Bible with me for comfort... Or at least my iPhone which i have myiBible on it. I would still have ME, and my own inner strength. And heck,i have got DID so i still would have my own inner crowd with me too.

In that case I make up a new name for myself, learn a language, get a job, and meet new people. It is a new beginning and I can start over - and ideally make new mistakes.