Echoes of Integrity: Finding Peace in a Life Well-lived

"Embracing the lessons of the past, discovering meaning in every chapter."

Stage Eight: Integrity vs. Despair

Rebecca, a 70-year-old woman, is now in Erik Erikson’s stage of Integrity vs. Despair, a period of life where individuals reflect on their past and seek meaning in the lives they have lived. Known for her deep love of going to church and her generosity toward her family and friends, Rebecca approaches late adulthood with a sense of gratitude and fulfillment. Her strong faith, giving nature, and lasting relationships highlight the integrity she has built over the years, showing that she continues to find purpose and peace in the connections and contributions that have shaped her life.

Rebecca experiences natural changes associated with late adulthood. Her body feels weaker, and she becomes tired more easily. She faces health conditions such as high blood pressure and elevated creatinine, which affects her mobility, energy, and overall well-being. Regular checkups, medication, and a supportive environment become important parts of her routine. Despite these challenges, she continues to remain active in ways that bring her joy, such as attending church and spending time with loved ones. 

Cognitively, Rebecca notices a slower processing speed or occasional forgetfulness, which are normal parts of aging. However, she also benefits from the wisdom that comes from decades of life experience. She has strong judgment, emotional understanding, and the ability to reflect deeply on her life. Her time in church, prayer, and meaningful conversations with family and friends help keep her mind active and connected.

Socioemotionally, Rebecca is in a phase where reflection and connection are central. She finds comfort in her faith community and joy in giving to her family and friends. Her relationships bring her a sense of belonging and purpose. This generosity and the love she shares reflect a deep sense of integrity, as she looks back on her life with gratitude and fulfillment. She values peace, closeness, and acceptance.

Seasons of Purpose: Growing Beyond Oneself

"Nurturing others, creating lasting impact, and embracing meaningful change."

Stage Seven: Generativity vs. Stagnation

Joel, a 40-year-old, clearly reflects Erikson’s stage of Generativity vs. Stagnation. In this period of middle adulthood, individuals strive to contribute meaningfully to society and guide the next generation. As a pastor, he supports people in their spiritual and personal lives, offers guidance during difficult times, and actively mentors the youth to become responsible, confident individuals. He loves spending his free time going to different churches and meeting different people. His commitment to nurturing growth in others demonstrates a deep sense of care and purpose, showing that he is successfully navigating this stage by leaving a positive and lasting impact on those around him. 

At 40, he begins to notice gradual physical changes typical of middle adulthood. His stamina slightly decreased, and he experiences early signs of aging such as slower metabolism, minor bodyaches, and reduced recovery time, especially important because he also works as a vehicle technician, and a real estate agent, requiring physical effort and a weekly busy schedule. 

Cognitively, Joel is in a period of peak expertise. His years of experience in many fields allow him to solve problems efficiently, think practically, and make wise decisions. His ability to reason, plan, and multitask is strong. He also uses advanced social understanding and emotional intelligence when guiding church members and mentoring youth, showing mature and well-developed cognitive abilities.

Joel’s roles—as a pastor, a father, a husband, and a mentor—show that he is deeply engaged in meaningful relationships and community life. He derives fulfillment from guiding others spiritually, supporting his family, and contributing to the growth of younger people. This reflects generativity, the desire to nurture, lead, and leave a positive impact. His sense of identity is strengthened through service, relationships, and purpose.

The Intimate Self: Exploring Bonds and Belonging

"Creating meaningful bonds, balancing independence"

Stage Six: Intimacy vs. Isolation

Erik Erikson’s sixth stage of psychosocial development occurs during young adulthood, typically between the ages of 18 and 40. At this point in life, individuals are transitioning from adolescence to full adulthood, striving to establish their identities while seeking meaningful relationships with others. The central conflict of this stage revolves around the ability to form deep, committed, and intimate relationships vs. the risk of becoming socially isolated and emotionally distant. Success in this stage allows a person to experience genuine love and companionship, while failure can result in loneliness and self-absorption.

At 28 years old, Nova Mateo, a young woman living at Indangan, Davao City, finds herself navigating one of the most significant stages of adulthood described by Erik Erikson – the stage of Intimacy vs. Isolation. As she continues to build her career, form meaningful relationships, and define her personal goals, Nova experiences the challenges and opportunities that come with balancing independence and emotional connection. According to Nova, the challenges she is mostly battling at this stage are the changes in her health and lifestyle. She is prone to experience several illnesses like constant headaches and backpain which she thinks leads to more serious health and mental issues like anxiety and depression. She also faces challenges with friends, family and romantic relationships which she had learned a few things from. She shared that she once betrayed her friends over a lover which she regrets and swears to never do again. This has caused her to have trust issues and difficulty in establishing intimacy. She has admitted that when she’s in love, her partner’s advice and opinion will be important to her as she thinks it will help her decide and grow as a person, but from her previous experience, she now thinks this as a situational view. When it comes to personal goals, she prioritizes her family’s judgment more than her friends. Once she reached adulthood, she became mindful when it came to decision making. The ability to apply emotional intelligence in interactions became important as she navigates the complexities of intimacy.

At her age, she also craves the formation of close and meaningful bonds. Friendships that are no longer helpful for her growth will not be welcomed anymore. She now seeks companionship and emotional security through relationships that involve trust, mutual respect and commitment. The establishment of intimacy by having the willingness to open up to another person emotionally, share experiences, and accepting both flaws and strengths. She takes care of her well-being by trying to stay calm, especially in stressful situations, letting her think first before reacting. She believes that this helps her make a better decision in life. Going to places she’s never been and being free for a moment is a leisure time she enjoys. She also found comfort in eating food she craves, watching movies she loves, and reading some interesting books.

Success is one of the things we look forward to in life. We wonder when and how we are going to be successful someday. Somehow, over time, our idea of success changes. For Nova, when she was younger, she thought success was defined by having a big house, fancy car and having a lot of savings in the bank. She also dreamed of graduating from a prestigious school. However, as she grew older, she realized that it is not about all those things. She realized that being contented in life, and having a loving connection with your family is what truly matters – the real success we can achieve. Poverty has been one of the motivations she had to keep going even during difficult times. She had to support her family financially even at a young age. It has been her dream as well to travel to many different places around the world. Her biggest realization during adulthood is that not everyone will stay, and change is the only constant thing there is. When asked if she could give some advice to her younger self, she states, “I would gladly say enjoy every little thing you do right now and never dream of becoming an adult. Just live in the moment. Play as much as you can, have fun, and start saving up 5 pesos everyday so you can buy a lot of nice things”.

Shaping the Self: A Journey Through Becoming

"Growing through discovery, thriving in purpose"

Stage Five: Identity vs. Confusion

Adolescence, roughly between the ages of 12 and 18, is a crucial period marked by rapid physical, cognitive and emotional changes, as individuals transition from childhood to adulthood. The main task in this stage is to develop a clear and stable sense of identity, understanding who you are, what values and direction you want to take in your life. Failure, on the other hand, can result in role confusion, where the individual struggles to understand their place in the world and feels uncertain about their goals, values, and sense of self. In this blog, we will feature the life of a 13-year-old girl named Jael Tubiano or better known as Jaja.

Physically, this stage is defined by the changes brought about by puberty. Adolescents experience rapid growth spurts, hormonal changes, and the development of secondary sexual characteristics. For Jaja, physical changes often affect self-image and confidence, making appearance and body awareness a major concern. Once she reached adolescence, she became more self-conscious as she adjusted to a maturing body. She had her menarche when she was about 11 years old. At first, she had no idea what to do. Luckily, she has an older sister who was able to teach her a few self-care tips. She taught her how to use a napkin, even how to properly throw it. Jaja admits she is facing several insecurities of her own. She doesn’t like being compared to others, but she also doesn’t like being different.

Cognitively, adolescents begin to reach a new level of thinking known as formal operational thought, as described by Jean Piaget. They begin to form their own opinions, separate from those of their parents or caregivers. Once Jaja reached adolescence stage, she felt like she had this power where she could voice out her mind and can freely share her thoughts. She established this freedom from her home, as she was allowed to be able to speak to and be heard of. With the guidance from her parents and older sister, she is now quite aware of the problems they are facing in the community. Despite being young, she has also established some personal goals she wishes to aim one day. With her love for drawing and being a young artist, she dreams of becoming an architect. Cognitive growth during this stage is essential in helping them explore who they want to be and what kind of life they wish to pursue.

Socioemotionally, the search for identity becomes the main focus. Teenagers begin to experiment with different roles, activities, and social groups in an effort to discover where they fit in. Jaja has found comfort in fitting in, somehow. She likes being able to bond with her friends and doing things they also like. Peer relationships become important to her, as friends provide emotional support, validation, and a sense of belonging. Somehow, it brings conflict as she strives for independence while still relying on family for guidance and security. During this stage, emotional ups and downs are common, as they balance the desire for freedom with the need for acceptance and stability.

Forging Confidence: The Workshop of Childhood, The Craft of Becoming

"Building skills, building self."

Stage Four: Industry vs. Inferiority

Middle to late childhood is a stage when children grow not only in size, but also in how they think, feel, and interact with others. Jairus, a 9-year-old boy, is a great example of how children grow and develop during this time. By learning more about his life, we can better understand the physical, cognitive, and socioemotional changes that happen during this period.

During this stage, children become stronger, faster, and more coordinated. They learn new physical skills and enjoy doing more activity. His dad influenced his love for music, and his older sister inspired him to try sports. This shows how children at this stage learn from watching others and trying new things. He is always curious and wants to get better at his hobbies, which is a sign of healthy cognitive development. He shows strong physical development through his love for sports. He has joined arnis (a Filipino martial art) and running at school, and he has done very well in both. These sports require good balance, strength, and quick movements, which he has developed over time. He also has good hand coordination from playing musical instruments like the drums, guitar, and bass. These physical activities help him grow healthy and strong.

As children grow, they also begin to master fine motor skills, such as writing or drawing. While Jairus is good at many things, he feels a bit sad that he cannot draw or paint as good as his older sister. This shows that even though he has grown a lot physically, every child develops at their own pace, and it’s normal to be better at some skills than others. During this stage, children start thinking more clearly and can solve problems, follow rules, and understand more complex ideas. Jairus shows strong thinking skills through his musical talents. He started learning drums at the age of 5 from his father. Learning to play instruments takes a lot of focus, memory, and listening skills. It also helps improve the brain’s ability to think creatively and logically.

This is the stage where children learn more about their emotions, how to make friends, and how to understand others’ feelings. Jairus is a very social boy who loves making friends, especially with older kids. He says that kids his age are sometimes too "childish" "playful” for him. He feels that older people are more fun to be around, and he can also learn a lot from them. This shows that he may be more mature in how he thinks and feels, and he enjoys having deeper conversations and more meaningful friendships. At home, Jairus does not enjoy doing household chores, which is common for many children his age. However, he feels very happy and satisfied when people praise him for his talents and skills. He especially loves it when others are impressed that he can play instruments so well at such a young age. These compliments give him a sense of pride and self-confidence, which is very important for emotional development.

Seeds of Initiative: The Playful Path to Grow Beyond Fear

"Nurturing the courage to try, encouraging the freedom to learn."

Stage Three: Initiative vs. Guilt

Early childhood is a very important time in a child’s life, as it is when they start to learn, grow, and understand the world around them. During these years, children develop their personality, habits, and skills. Seeing this stage from a parent or guardian’s point of view helps us understand how children change and what they need to grow well. They see the small, everyday moments that shape a child’s early life, making their view special and meaningful.

Thomas is a happy and playful 3-year-old boy who brings joy to everyone around him. Born as the youngest among three children, Thomas had a tough start to life. According to Analyn, his mother, who we had the chance to speak with regarding the young boy's development, claims that he was delivered prematurely and had to stay in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) after birth. Even though those first few days were hard, Thomas has grown into a strong and healthy boy, filling his home with energy and smiles.

Physically, Thomas is growing well. Although he is a bit light-weighted, he is active and full of life. He enjoys moving around and especially loves dancing to fun, upbeat music. Whether he is spinning around or bouncing to the rhythm, dancing helps him use his muscles and improve his balance and coordination. He can likely run, climb, and jump, just like most children his age. His love for fruits shows that he is developing healthy eating habits, which helps in his growth and strength.

The child is also doing well in his thinking and learning. One of his favorite things right now is learning the alphabet. This shows that his brain is growing and he is beginning to understand language, letters, and sounds. At this stage, children often become curious about the world around them. It is also helpful that he has a 13-year-old brother and a 10-year-old older sister he can play with and learn things from. He asks questions and shows interest in new things, which are great signs of healthy cognitive development. His playful nature and love for being goofy also help him learn.

The young boy is not just learning and growing in body and mind, but he is also developing socially and emotionally. He loves being goofy and making people smile. He likely learns from his older siblings and joins in their play. This helps him understand how to share, take turns, and express his feelings. He has also become a bundle of joy not just in their home, but also to their entire neighborhood. Everyone loves seeing him as he is a polite, sweet boy. He seems to be a kind and happy child as well, which is a good sign of emotional strength. His smile and playfulness are his way of bonding with others and making them feel happy, too.

Stage One: Trust vs. Mistrust

The Path from Conception to Parenthood

Conception marks the beginning of human life, the moment a sperm cell unites with an egg cell. In this blog, we feature the story of Marites, who is currently six months pregnant. Through her experiences, we gain insight into the physical, cognitive, and socioemotinal changes that accompany pregnancy, as well as the expectations and preparations she is making as she awaits the arrival of her baby girl.

From the very beginning, her body underwent noticeable transformations. She shared that she experienced vaginal odor, tender and swollen breasts. Almost every early morning, she felt numbness in her body. Along with these changes came mood swings and morning sickness, which made her first trimester particularly challenging. She further described her experience, saying, “I always want to pee and feel tired, I just want to sleep in whenever". Entering her second trimester, she experienced common pregnancy issues such as indigestion and heartburn, which she has learned to manage as part of her journey. During this stage, she noticed a significant shift in her body and appetite. “I tend to eat and crave more nowadays” she shared, describing how her cravings grew and her food intake increased as her pregnancy progressed. She said she mostly craved buko, which made her happy. This trimester has felt lighter for her compared to the first, as she has embraced both the challenges and the joys that came with it. She said that one of the most rewarding moments was feeling her baby move for the first time, which brought her happiness and reassurance.

For Marites, pregnancy is also a period of learning. She has gained new knowledge about caring for a baby, including how to bathe and nurture an infant, emphasizing the importance of preparation before her child arrives. She also explained that pregnancy has brought her family closer together, with stronger bond and a greater sense of protection. Her partner has been loving and attentive, while household tasks have become lighter, allowing her more rest. Friends, on the other hand, have stood by her through emotional support and practical advice. "I am grateful to have them as my support system, and to guide me what to do and what not to do during my pregnancy", she said.

Looking ahead, she described her emotional state as one of excitement. “I feel so excited to become a mom”, she expressed, her anticipation shining through despite the physical and emotional challenges she face during pregnancy. She has also considered how she will respond once her baby girl arrives. She plans to remain calm and attentive, carefully assess her needs, and comfort her with gentle techniques. At the same time, she recognizes the importance of self-care. "Learn to stay calm and ready, seek what is needed while also taking care of myself", she explained.