In the modern world, the sense of one's "self" is directly dependent on our memories and life experiences.

Memory and Experience: The Foundations of Identity

In the modern world, the sense of one's "self" is directly dependent on our memories and life experiences. Every moment spent with loved ones, every emotional encounter, and the first taste of life creates the foundation upon which a unique sense of self is built. The loss of these precious ties to the past can shatter self-confidence and call into question the very essence of existence.

Without memories, the continuity of our stories disappears – we lose the bridges that connect the past with the present. It is precisely through memory that a person relies on lived moments to form a personal narrative. The inability to recover key stages of the past leads to a profound crisis of identity. Similarly, life experiences – whether the mystical depth of monastic tradition or everyday joys – become a source of inner strength and understanding of the meaning of existence. If the moments during which we came to know the world and ourselves within it are lost, we also lose the certainty of who we are today.

Ultimately, both the loss of memory and the disappearance of life experience have a destructive impact on our sense of identity. Without the ability to lean on the past, the key to self-expression vanishes, and with it, the confidence in our own authenticity. That is why it is so important to preserve and cherish every moment of life, for within them lies the essence of our existence.

How does the loss of memory and life experience affect the preservation of personal identity?

The loss of memory destroys the foundation on which the sense of "self" is built because memories of past experiences, close bonds with loved ones, and primary life sensations are the basic elements in forming personal identity. Without them, the continuity of one’s personal narrative disappears, and a person begins to doubt the authenticity of themselves.

In one of the sources (" link txt") the following thought is presented:
"Memory exists in animals and birds as well, otherwise they would not find their dens, nests, and many other familiar things; they could only become accustomed to them thanks to memory. I will disregard memory in order to touch the One who separated me from the quadrupeds and made me wiser than the heavenly birds. I will disregard memory in order to find You. Where? Truly good, faithful, and sweet—where to find You? If I do not find You in my memory, then I do not remember You. And how will I find You if I do not remember You? A woman lost a drachma and searched for it with a lamp; if she did not remember it, she would not have found it."
This excerpt illustrates the idea that the loss of memory automatically means the loss of the ability to recover and comprehend the key moments of one’s life journey, which in turn can undermine the foundation of one’s personality.

Furthermore, life experience plays a decisive role in how we perceive ourselves. In a reflection from the source (" link txt") it is stated:
"The transformation of monastic life at the end of the first millennium is evidenced by the emergence of a whole range of additions and commentaries to the rule of St. Benedict. ... The weakening of the consciousness’s participation in the certainty of salvation is conditioned by the weakening of the 'force of living,' or more precisely, the weakening of the strength of monastic living. But since, in the conditions of the iconosphere, life is the pursuit of divine knowledge, and the pursuit of divine knowledge is life, the weakening of the force of living means a gradual loss of the experience of divine knowledge. The loss of the inner life experience of divine knowledge is tantamount to the loss of the certainty of salvation."
Here, the loss of life experience is presented as a process that strips a person of inner stability and confidence in their own identity – for when the profound experiences that allow us to grasp the essence of being disappear, the evidence of our existence, its authenticity, is also lost.

Thus, the loss of memory and life experience has a decisive impact on the preservation of personal identity. The loss of memory deprives a person of the ability to rely on accumulated experiences and ties to the past, while the loss of inner life experience undermines their capacity to understand themselves as unique beings. Ultimately, the absence of these connections can lead to a deep identity crisis, in which not only the knowledge of who we once were is lost but also the understanding of who we are today.

Supporting citation(s):
"Memory exists in animals and birds as well, otherwise they would not find their dens, nests, and many other familiar things; they could only become accustomed to them thanks to memory. I will disregard memory in order to touch the One who separated me from the quadrupeds and made me wiser than the heavenly birds. I will disregard memory in order to find You. Where? Truly good, faithful, and sweet—where to find You? If I do not find You in my memory, then I do not remember You. And how will I find You if I do not remember You? A woman lost a drachma and searched for it with a lamp; if she did not remember it, she would not have found it." (source: link txt)

"Regarding the transformation of monastic life at the end of the first millennium, it is evidenced by the emergence of a whole range of additions and commentaries to the rule of St. Benedict. ... The weakening of the consciousness’s participation in the certainty of salvation is conditioned by the weakening of the 'force of living,' or more precisely, the weakening of the strength of monastic living. But since, in the conditions of the iconosphere, life is the pursuit of divine knowledge, and the pursuit of divine knowledge is life, the weakening of the force of living means a gradual loss of the experience of divine knowledge. The loss of the inner life experience of divine knowledge is tantamount to the loss of the certainty of salvation." (source: link txt)