THE IDENTITY CRISIS: FROM THIS TO THAT

How The Creation Code Turns Life’s Big Shifts into Opportunities for Growth

Change is never just about circumstances. Every major life stage forces the deeper question: “If I am no longer that, who am I now?”

Psychologists call these moments role transitions or role exits. I call them “This to That” passages, seasons when the old identity fades before the new one is fully formed. They can feel unsettling, yet they are also fertile ground for growth.

Consider the modern teen standing between childhood and adulthood, wondering, “I’m not a child and not yet an adult, so what am I?” Social media complicates this classic challenge with endless comparison and the illusion of connection without true belonging. The Creation Code invites teens to write Outcome Statements and build a Master Modeling Vision Wheel, moving from externally imposed labels to an identity they can claim for themselves.

Think of the veteran who describes leaving the military as stepping out of one world and into another overnight. The skills that kept them alive such as hyper-vigilance and readiness to fight no longer fit civilian expectations of good neighbor and co-worker. The practices inside The Creation Code help veterans integrate the “warrior self” into a life of service and community without shame or denial.

Parents face a similar turning point when their children grow up and leave home. Mothers and fathers often ask, “If I’m not needed in the same way, what now defines me?” Empty-nest grief, marital readjustment and fears of purposelessness are common. The Creation Code reframes this season as a chance to rediscover personal passion and to create new Outcome Statements for the next chapter.

Others confront identity change when a partnership ends, whether through divorce, a breakup, or the death of a spouse. The identity once formed around “we” suddenly becomes “me.” Even when the former partner is alive, the relationship you counted on is gone. Questions emerge: “Who am I without this bond? Can I trust love or myself again?” The Creation Code helps participants name the beliefs that loss tries to cement (“I am unlovable,” “I failed”) and flip them into Outcome Statements that anchor dignity and hope. The Mental Diet and the Master Modeling Vision Wheel guide a rebuilt sense of self that is strong, whole and open to new purpose.

Another passage arrives after years of chasing a dream such as earning a degree, launching a company or winning a championship, when success brings unexpected emptiness. When the chase ends, so does the identity of “the one striving.” The Creation Code guides high achievers from “I reached the summit” to “I am becoming someone who continues to grow and give,” turning success into a platform for ongoing purpose.

For many, a career has shaped identity for decades. When the daily role ends through retirement or a late-career transition, it is natural to wonder, “If my work no longer defines me, who am I?” Tools such as the Mental Diet and Developing the Negative help retirees uncover limiting beliefs and embrace their new role as mentors and community builders.

There are countless other “This to That” passages. A caregiver who has spent years supporting an aging parent must learn how to shift toward self-care. An immigrant works to find belonging without losing cultural roots. An athlete whose body says stop must redefine life after sports. A founder handing a business to the next generation asks, “What is my purpose now?”

Although each passage is unique, they share a common pattern. First comes the role exit, when the old identity falls away before the new one is clear. Then comes the liminal space, an in-between period that can feel like confusion or liberation. Finally there is the opportunity for growth, because identity is not a fixed label; it is a living draft.

The Creation Code provides a repeatable process for any “This to That” moment. The Outcome Formula offers a method for turning vision into lived reality. The practicums, such as the Master Modeling Vision Wheel, help you examine inherited beliefs and create new ones. Most importantly, it frames identity as a verb: something you do, not just something you are.

Whether you are a teen facing adulthood, a veteran building a civilian life, a parent entering the empty-nest years, a partner navigating loss, a professional stepping into retirement, or an achiever wondering what comes after the trophy, The Creation Code provides a map for the next self.

Identity crises are not problems to avoid. They are invitations to growth, creativity and a deeper understanding of the person you are becoming. Because The Creation Code makes the once unknown more knowable than the known, identity becomes clear, concise and compelling.