I have noticed that analysing things from an evolutionary perspective can be very beneficial. When trying to understand why something is the way it is or functions in a certain way, it can be helpful to consider how it came to be from an adaptationist point of view. This can include behaviours, habits, social structures, relationships between parties, and automatic emotional reactions, among other things. This perspective is particularly useful when it comes to things we are not happy about, such as politics, money, economics, war, health, and respect. It turns out that most of these things have developed in only one of very few ways they could have, and in most cases not the worst one. This is not to say that these things should be left as they are if they are suboptimal (beware not to derive an ought from an is), but it can help to understand that they have developed into something better than what they have ever been and to consider them as a starting point for further improvement.

When it comes to the identity issue, I think of it as how it has come to be a thing. When you were an early hominid, you only cared to be identified as one of your group so that you would not be outcast or killed. You may also have cared about your identity in terms of your status within the group. But being an early hominid did not require much actual thinking. Things were just the way they were. When civilization starts to emerge, however, roles within society become diversified, and you may acquire more identities related to your job and utility for the community. You can improve or pretend to be someone else as your identity, but that will always be verified by both - your peers and reality. For example, you cannot identify as a warrior unless you truly are one. If you try to fake it for status by wearing warrior's identifiers such as necklaces or face paint, I wish you luck. You can shape who you are, such as becoming a warrior, a potter, or a mother, but if you want others to recognize that, it must be backed up by reality and not just a claim about your feelings.

The other thing is, that there can be confusion about the meaning of the word "identity." It can mean who you actually are (who you are identical to under a chosen aspect) or how you are identified by others. Your concern on one hand is to recognize the first one as accurately as possible in correspondence to reality, and shape it if you don't like it. On the other hand, it is to be recognized as who you are, remembering that you are subject to judgment and identification and cannot just claim it. If you want a certain identity, you must actually attain it and then present it in a way that others will recognize it. I cannot identify as a doctor and demanding that others identify me as such without earning a PhD first. That's not how it works. That's why I don't agree with the post statement that says: "attempting to define a clear identity for myself", as there is not much to define on my part. I might have a lot to work on regarding whom I actually am, but defining it is not up to me. It will be the others to define it based on how well I achieve and present it.

AI:

This question is a bit tricky, as it depends on the context. On the one hand, it is true that we cannot impose our identity on others, as they will always judge it based on reality. For example, I cannot identify as a warrior unless I truly am one, and if I try to fake it by wearing warrior's identifiers, others will not recognize it as such. On the other hand, if I am a warrior and present it in a way that others recognize it, then yes, my identity can be recognized by others. Ultimately, people will recognize our identity based on how well we achieve it and how we present it. However, it is also important to understand that identity is something that evolves over time and that individual identity is not fixed. We can change our identity and adapt it to different situations, and our identity can also be shaped by our environment. For example, people living in different cultures may see identity in different ways. Furthermore, some people may have different identities depending on the context, such as when they are in a professional setting or a social setting. Thus, identity can be seen as an ever-evolving concept.