Identity Crisis and Personal Growth: 5 Tools to Find Clarity
If you’re experiencing an identity crisis and craving personal growth, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too, and today, I’m sharing what helped me move through the confusion and find a renewed sense of clarity and purpose.
Have you ever looked at your life, your career, your goals, your identity, and thought, “Wait… who am I now?”
If so, you’re not alone. I’ve been moving through what can only be described as an identity crisis, and I want to share my journey in case you’re facing something similar.
For years, I knew exactly who I was. I had a corporate career, a passion project turned business, and a strong identity as a solo travel coach. But when I resigned from my 14-year corporate job in early 2024 to go all in on One Girl Travel, everything shifted. That moment marked the beginning of my own identity crisis and personal growth journey.
Why We Struggle with Identity as We Evolve
At first, I felt clear: I was here to help women travel solo and change their lives through exploration. But as I evolved, I started asking deeper questions.
Am I still a travel coach? Or am I now a life coach, content creator, and business consultant?
I found myself in a space where the labels didn’t fit anymore. I sought advice, tried to follow others’ paths, and lost sight of my own voice. And that’s a familiar part of identity crisis and personal growth—feeling like you’ve outgrown an old version of yourself but aren’t sure who you’re becoming yet.
What Happens When You’re More Than One Thing
I’ve realized that I’m not meant to choose just one title. I’m a multi-passionate woman. I’m creative, curious, and capable of blending my interests into something powerful.
Today, I confidently own the fact that I’m a content creator, certified life coach, certified travel coach, travel advisor, blogger, podcaster, branding and visibility consultant, and social media event correspondent.
It might sound like a lot, but here’s the truth: the common thread through everything I do is helping women live boldly, confidently, and unapologetically, whether they’re traveling the world, starting a business, or showing up online.
5 Tools That Helped Me Navigate My Identity Crisis
If you’re currently feeling lost, stuck, or unsure about your next chapter, here are five things that helped me gain clarity during my own identity crisis:
1. Reconnect with Your Authentic Self
Set aside 20 to 30 minutes in a quiet space to journal. Ask yourself:
- Who was I before the world told me who to be?
- What did I love doing as a child or teen?
- When do I feel most like myself?
For me, it meant returning to creativity—like sculpting, baking, and coloring. Tapping into childhood joy helped me find grounding and direction.
2. Clarify What No Longer Fits
Make two lists: one for what feels heavy or out of alignment, and one for what you truly want. Reflect on these questions:
- What labels or roles am I holding onto out of fear or habit?
- What am I tired of pretending to enjoy?
- If no one else’s opinion mattered, what would I choose?
Letting go of outdated identities creates space for the next version of you.
3. Visualize Your Future Self
Take ten minutes to imagine the most confident, fulfilled version of you. Ask:
- What does my day look like?
- How do I dress, speak, and show up?
- What am I no longer tolerating?
If you can envision her, she already lives within you.
4. Create a Vision Board
Use Pinterest or a physical board to collect words, images, and textures that represent who you’re becoming. Focus less on “stuff” and more on how you want to feel. Keep the board somewhere you’ll see it every day. Watch the Manifest Your Magic Replay HERE to help you create your own vision board.
5. Act Like Your Future Self
Pick one small habit your future self would do and start now. Maybe it’s how you introduce yourself, how you dress, or how you show up online.
Ask yourself daily:
- What would the version of me I’m becoming do right now?
This is how I overcame fear in the early days of solo travel. I embodied the confidence I wanted to feel, and with time, I became her.
Your Evolution is Not a Problem—It’s a Path
I’ve grown into the woman I once wished I could be, and I know I’ll continue evolving. That’s the beauty of this journey. There’s no finish line—just the next level of you.
So if you’re in the middle of your own identity shift, know this:
- You’re not broken.
- You don’t have to niche down to be valid.
- You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need direction, clarity, and permission to become who you truly are.
Ready for More Clarity and Confidence?
If you want support stepping into your next evolution—whether it’s personal, professional, or both—I’d love to help.
You can reach me at contact@onegirltravel.com or explore resources at alessialisa.com.
Thank you for reading. I’m rooting for you.
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