How to Find Yourself

Book excerpt: A Christian Answer to the Identity Angst of Our Culture In the 21st-century West, identity is everything. Never has it been more important, culturally speaking, to know who you are and remain true to yourself. Expressive individualism—the belief that looking inward is the way to find yourself—has become the primary approach to identity formation, and questioning anyone's "self-made self" is often considered a threat or attack. Prompted by his own past crisis of identity, Brian Rosner challenges the status quo by arguing that, while knowing yourself is of some value, it cannot be the sole basis for one's identity. He provides an approach to identity formation that leads to a more stable and satisfying sense of self. This approach looks outward to others—acknowledging that we are social beings—and looks upward to God to find a self who is intimately known and loved by him. How to Find Yourself equips readers from a variety of backgrounds to engage sympathetically with some of the most pressing questions of our day. Challenges the Status Quo: Examines and critiques expressive individualism—the leading strategy for identity formation Gospel-Centered: Identifies an approach to identity formation in Jesus's life story and God's personal knowledge of his children Accessible: Helpful for a wide audience of laypeople, students, and church leaders Foreword by Carl R. Trueman: Opens with a message from the author of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self