IndexWhat does identity mean?Personal identityThe body and body imageIntelligenceChristian identityWorks CitedWhat does identity mean?Many people, when they forcefully repeat some phrases excessively, almost lose their meaning and become empty formulas. Such is the case with Mark Manson's affinity when he states in his latest article that your identity is "a made-up thing that you are emotionally attached to." Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The topic of “identity” has been a favorite topic of philosophers and thinkers of all time, but I will not go through them all to avoid an extensive and unnecessary explanation about it. However, I will bring some psychological and theological arguments to defend my thesis. For example, to explain the importance of a sense of personal identity, Cavanagh explains that an important foundation, perhaps the most important foundation for mental and spiritual health, is psychological identity. A mature person can ask the question, “Who am I?” And be able to easily answer that crucial question. Manenti also has important statements regarding identity: “Every human being has the ability to love, to give oneself to another. A person has the ability to do something significant in a creative way, as well as the corresponding energy... it is important to be aware of this, because it is around this essential reality that a person finds himself and finds himself essentially worthy of esteem. The rest is secondary. That is to say, it matters little whether a certain human being possesses great or certain talents; since it does not change the fact that the person does not have intellectual coefficients of genius, or that he does not dazzle when he speaks, or that he finds difficulty in carrying out certain functions; it is not a drama if a person makes a mistake or discovers that there is someone more precious than him/her."Personal IdentityEvery person is able to claim to be a unique and unrepeatable individual. DNA molecules determine our hereditary qualities. Genetically speaking, it is almost impossible to find two people who are genetically the same. For example, from the union of the 23 chromosomes of the father and the 23 chromosomes of the mother, 8,388,608 possible combinations are obtained. We must then ask ourselves if we are aware of our identity. I know for a fact that I am a human being, which means "an indivisible substance of a rational nature", which is Boethius' classical definition. My true “I” is the unity of an organism, animated by a rational, spiritual and immortal soul. I was created in the image of God, which forms the foundation of my self-image and positive self-esteem, which are important elements for my life satisfaction, efficiency in work and ability to enjoy good interpersonal relationships, in contrast to what Manson explains when “there is no true self.” The body and body imageAs a human person, I possess elements that constitutively belong to my human nature. I have – especially in the physical notion – a body. Each of the cells in my organism is a masterpiece of genetic engineering, the neurons in my brain that qualify me to think, imagine and memorize. The heart that beats 70 times a minute, day and night. My eyes that allow me to see the light and enjoy some beautiful surroundings. My ears that allow me to listen to my favorite musical artists such as Armin van Buuren, Above and Beyond and Fatum. My body and my body image form the very basis of all senses of identity. It is a gift from God that we all have this organism, and secondary are the facts whether one is thin or fat, beautiful or ugly. The important thing is that the person feels comfortable with their body image;male or female; weak or strong; young or old. When a person sees his reflection in a mirror, he may exclaim: “that's me”. Emotions and Perceptions Through the bodily senses, man receives infinite stimulation from the outside world. The sensation of emotions is a chaotic accumulation of information that must be selected and organized to become perceptions. It is the unanimous belief of psychologists to state that our perception is selective. An important aspect of our identity is the peculiar way that each person has of perceiving the world, but above all how that person perceives himself, that is, his self-image. This self-image reflects a person's sense of identity. For example, Branden states in his work “The Psychology of Self-Esteem” that people see the world through their own filter, so the image of my “I” represents and influences all perceptions, the way of thinking, feeling and acting . The self-concept is the frame of reference for all perceptions. Intelligence My intelligence is what specifies me as a human, rational and free being. I have my own thoughts, my own ideas, my own personal beliefs. The ability to think conceptually gives me the dignity of king over all creation, for I can decide things for the animal and plant kingdoms. I can think with abstract categories of universal value. I can formulate scientific hypotheses and laws; I can share my ideas, opinions and beliefs with others. I am an intelligent and free being. Christian identity. As a Catholic, I believe that Christian identity is not an artificial mask of identity for a person, nor a dress that one must put on and take off at will. Christian identity is a constitutive and vital aspect to explain identity. In addition to our values ​​for the human person, we must integrate our identity as Christians. Through Baptism, we responded to God's generous call, and we were marked to elevate our person to a higher dimension, unknown and inaccessible through the natural sciences. Only faith and revelation can guide us to this reality. An essential element of the identity of an authentic Christian is his divine filiation: I am a child of God through baptism. The Church insistently reminds us that every Christian is honored with the name of Christ, because he can call himself a child of God; through the waters of baptism man becomes a new creature, a member of Christ conformed to the image of the Son. These elements contribute to forming the identity of the Christian, they are not simple theoretical abstractions, but when the person truly accepts them as truth, he makes them become his own life through faith. The Holy Spirit and prayer then find firm foundations to form a positive self-image and healthy self-esteem. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay So, we will see that your identity is not a made up thing that we are emotionally attached to… our identity is not a mirage in the desert… our identity is not a ketchup bottle in the empty refrigerator. Your identity defines you as a human, rational and free being. Works Cited Boethius. (2008). The consolation of philosophy. Oxford University Press. Branden, N. (2001). The psychology of self-esteem: a revolutionary approach to self-understanding that launched a new era in modern psychology. Jossey Bass. Cavanagh, G. F. (2012). Psychology and personal identity. In Meeting personal identity (pp. 11-34). Springer. Manson, M. (2021). Your identity does not exist. Mark Manson's blog. Manenti, G. (2008). Identity and value. Communio: International Catholic Review, 35(3), 417-429. Petrus, K. (2015). Personal identity: theological perspectives e., 82(2), 191-203.