Rediscovering Yourself Abroad: Identity and Belonging as an Expat
Moving to Spain often begins as a dream — a fresh start in the sunshine, a slower pace, a life closer to nature or the sea. Yet as the months pass, many expats quietly begin to ask themselves a surprising question:
“Who am I now?”
When you leave your home country, you don’t just change your address — you step out of the roles, routines, and cultural cues that once helped define who you were. The career, social circle, and familiar language that gave shape to your daily life may no longer fit the same way.
This shift can feel freeing… but it can also feel disorienting.
🌍 The Challenge of Belonging
In Spain’s vibrant expat communities, it’s easy to feel surrounded by people — and still feel lonely. You might find yourself caught between two worlds: not fully part of local Spanish life, but no longer fully at home in your old one either.
That in-between space can bring up emotions such as:
A quiet sense of isolation, even in beautiful surroundings
Guilt for feeling unhappy when life should be good
Doubt about career, purpose, or direction
Nostalgia for “how life used to be”
These feelings are more common than most people realise. They’re not a sign that you’ve made a mistake — they’re part of the psychological adjustment of building a new life.
🌱 Growing Into a New Identity
Rather than trying to “find” your old self again, it can be powerful to see this as an opportunity to grow into a new version of yourself — one shaped by both your past and your present.
Here are a few ways to explore that process:
Reflect on what truly matters to you. Living abroad can strip away distractions and help you see your values more clearly.
Allow yourself to evolve. You don’t have to be who you were back home — you can define success and happiness on your own terms.
Connect with others who understand. Talking with fellow expats or a therapist who specialises in cross-cultural life can normalise what you’re feeling.
Embrace “in-between” as a place of creativity. Many people find that living abroad helps them rediscover parts of themselves they’d lost — curiosity, courage, a sense of openness.
💬 Finding Support
Therapy offers a quiet space to make sense of these changes — to explore identity, purpose, and belonging without judgement. It can help you reconnect with your inner stability, so you feel more at ease in your surroundings and in yourself.
You might not feel fully Spanish, and that’s okay. You’re building a life that’s uniquely yours — one that bridges cultures, experiences, and growth.
You don’t have to navigate that journey alone.
If you’d like a calm, confidential space to talk about how life abroad is affecting your sense of self, you’re welcome to reach out.
You can Contact me to arrange an initial conversation.