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When I think about infancy, it is the most vulnerable stage of life. You are completely dependent on the adults in your life. You begin to develop trust and mistrust to the people in your life at a very early stage in your life, which is incredible. "People need to trust the world and the people in it, but they also need to learn some mistrust to protect themselves from danger." My mother told me that I was very "stranger danger" to other people when I was a baby. That I only ever wanted her and my siblings. She said she could not leave me with anyone else until I was about age 2 and grew out of the mistrust. Some children take longer for that than others.

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Children are starting to feel more independent at this stage in their life, a toddler stage between 12-18 months to 3 years old. They are making decisions based on preference. "As children are better able to make their wishes understood, they become more powerful and independent." Shame and doubt also have their place, as making mistakes helps them recognize the need for some help as well. My mom has never commented on how I was at this age but I have a three year old and teach two year old's as my job and what we do to boost their confidence in finding their independence is by getting down on their level when they "mess up" explaining how even adults mess up and need help as well. This also places trust with us at the same time.

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Initiative vs Guilt is during preschool years. Preschool children want to show that they can do things on their own, however, when they think they can and fail, it may cause a sense of guilt within. My mother always told me that I was a very fierce preschooler and there was nothing that could stop me from doing what I wanted to do, but when I could not do something I would throw a huge tantrum. I eventually outgrew it with my mother letting me work through my feelings and giving me words of wisdom to make me feel stronger. "Preschool children can do- and want to do- more and more. At the same time, they are learning that some of the things they want to do meet social approval, where as others do not."

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"Developing a sense of industry, by contrast, involves learning how to work hard to achieve goals." This stage is during early school years between the ages of 5-11. If children can not achieve the praise and love of others, they may feel a low self-worth, or low self-esteem. When I was this age, I struggled with this because I craved the praise from my mother which I did not feel like I got enough of. However, I always felt loved by my teachers, siblings, friends and counselors.

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"The chief task of adolescence is to confront the crisis of identity versus identify confusion in order to become a unique adult with a coherent sense of self and a valued role in society." Identity is formed when young people think about what kind of career they want, what they like to do, hobbies, values, sexual identity, etc. Some teens can have a hard time with their identity when they dont venture out and think about what they want to do with their life and make commitments, which can cause confusion. When I was a teenager I struggled with identity. I resolved this issue by taking after school clubs/activities and trying to explore new things to see what I was passionate about, and to figure out what drove me and motivated me to want to succeed.

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This stage describes young adults starting to form relationships and commitment to others. This is important to feel feelings of love in a more intimate way outside of family. Young adults who fail to stay loyal and committed to relationships with others may start to feel isolated and lonely, and feel as if they are no good for anybody. When I started forming deeper relationships with people, I quickly withdrew and isolated myself only due to my own insecurities I had growing up that were never helped. Once I started to go to therapy, and learned some ways to change my behaviors and thoughts, I made some of the best relationships that I still have today.

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"Mature adult is concerned with establishing and guiding the next generation or else feels personal impoverishment." Adults need to feel useful, or fulfilled. They need to know they are doing something to contribute to the world. Whether that's being a good parent, or being good at their career, or being a positive light to people in a dark world, people just want to feel accomplished. Failing to do so can lead to feelings of being "unsuccessful" , unproductive, or even an identity crisis. I once went through a depression because I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life and procrastinated on my schooling. It was hard for me because I was still struggling with identity. I went on to have my children first and for me, that was enough. I feel accomplished everyday being a good mother and bettering myself for them. I also started volunteering at food pantries and animal shelters, and I picked out something to study for school. I knew even if it wasn't going to end up being my forever career, I was at least starting somewhere. For my experience with this, that is what helped me. I am still young and have a long way to go.

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"Elderly person achieves acceptance of own life, allowing acceptance of death, or else despairs inability to relive life." During my time volunteering at a nursing home, more often than not, the elderly residents always told me that I should slow down and take in the beauty of life because I will be in their shoes faster than I can imagine. As you get very old you lose the ability of being independent, so you are left with looking back on your life and deciding if you are happy with the life you've lived, what you've given, and the choices you made. If you feel fulfilled with your life than you can feel at peace when you're near the end of it vs if you are full of regrets. I plan to live my life to the fullest, which I feel like I have been doing, so that I can leave this earth with a sense of peace when it is my time. Elderly people are full of words of wisdom for a reason, and we need to start listening to them deeper.