Identity Struggles…
I read something today:
“Human begins are incapable of knowing how they experience one another. Because of this basic knowledge gap, we create our own conceptions of others experience us and then substitute these conceptions for reality. Indeed, we even base our actions and reactions to others upon our projections. We create an imaginary picture and base all our communication upon this fiction. But projections are exactly that – projection – and not reality. Consequently, we spend our lives bridging a fundamental double gap by formulating imaginary projections based on imaginary perceptions.” – (W. Randolph Tate, Biblical Interpretation: An Integrated Approach, 3rd Edition, pg. 203)
I find that quote disturbing, and I find it to be true. If it is true, than it means that we never really understand who we are, because we are living into the projections of what we think others think about us. It creates a never ending identity struggle. I’d like to think it wasn’t that way, but I know that project how I think someone else experiences an interaction with me, and of course, once I start to believe those projections are truth, I usually start to find ways to reinforce them (whether good or bad).
What do you think? Are we ever really able to be “real” with one another? Do we ever fully understand another persons experience of us? Do you think we go around with those projections, which almost forces us to live into the projections we’ve created? How do we move past that, so that we can fully experience true communion with one another?
I’d love to get some feedback on this.
