Beneath all the labels and stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves, is where I believe, we will find who we truly really are—and this is where we will find true happiness.

To me, a straitjacket is a great metaphor that represents human beings living beneath (and absorbed in) their labels, stories, and the accompanying pressures, expectations, and beliefs that are associated with the labels and stories we attach ourselves to throughout our lives.

Since discovering this metaphor, I find myself constantly challenging myself with how I define myself—what labels and stories I use when I show up with each day.