Stripping off Labels: On Being Kind to Ourselves

We are quick to define ourselves when we want to explain our depth. We are desperate to be seen a certain way so people will like us. We believe that harbouring extremes is what it means to honour our sense of self.

But the truth is that we have never needed titles to make ourselves make sense. These titles have only restricted our sense of self rather than amplifying it.

Try it once. Try not to define yourself in ways that you usually do. Let go of a label that you least connect with right now. Decide that you're no longer going to label yourself this way. How does this feel? Do you feel a sense of relief?

Keep doing this a little. Keep doing this a lot. Eventually, you'll realize that it's the ideals,  nuances and the 'supposed-to'  behind these labels that have held you back.

When I practised this, I experienced it as if an unseen weight had been lifted off from my body. My body felt as if the tight ropes of restrictions got snipped off. Like it was now safe to relax.

I wish we didn't care so much about what we meant to others, and how we modify ourselves to fit in their views. Not realizing that by doing this we are only shrinking the energy of ourselves.

When we strip off the labels, we approach circumstances with a sense of trust and surrender. You'll trust yourself to deal with whatever comes your way.