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Let go of labels. Transform your life. | Ryan Holiday

Big Think | February 4, 2025



Don’t call yourself “a writer,” just write. Ryan Holiday on how the labels you give yourself can hold you back.

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Who would you be without all the labels and identities you’ve collected over the course of your life?

Ego, titles, and societal expectations often shape who we think we are—or who we think we should be. Author, and for simplicity’s sake, bookstore owner, Ryan Holiday explains the simple question “What do you do?” can turn into a trap, making us cling to roles that don’t really define us. But what happens when you let go of these labels? What if, instead of focusing on the identity of being a writer, you focused on the act of writing itself?

As Holiday got older, he learned that being busy “doing the verb” is far more valuable than obsessing over the noun. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to fit into the “right” categories and titles, but that often means copying, comparing, and losing sight of what really matters.

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About Ryan Holiday: Ryan Holiday is a bestselling author, marketer, and one of today’s leading voices in modern Stoicism. He’s known for taking ancient wisdom and making it relatable and practical for everyday life. Before becoming an author, he led marketing at American Apparel. Now, he writes about strategy, self-discipline, and leadership, weaving history into real-world advice.

Written by Big Think

Comments

This post currently has 43 comments.

  1. @renzo6490

    February 4, 2025 at 4:34 am

    You read a question but you do not give a specific answer.

    ''Have you ever gone through something upsetting or painful that you later viewed as a blessing?''

    What is the answer??

  2. @Alkis05

    February 4, 2025 at 4:34 am

    All humans do is label. We are one big labeling machine. Its arguably our super power.

    You might as well ask: lets go without recoginzing patterns

    Or: lets stop abstracting things

  3. Anonymous

    February 4, 2025 at 4:34 am

    I felt very identified. I also own a bookstore, and also frees me from having to label myself (I don’t consider myself a “bookseller,” I just work in the bookstore). At university, despite having excellent grades, I couldn’t stand being labeled with a degree, so I left (I'm a little crazy).
    When people ask my young daughter about my profession, "What is your dad?" she finishes me off and saves me: "Nothing" (LOL). She’s wise.

  4. @catclouddogroad

    February 4, 2025 at 4:34 am

    A tattoo that says ego is the enemy is a manifestation of the ego.

    It is like saying I'm not a writer but I like writing…

    This idea of not having labels is a way to say to others 'look how much better I am than you… I have no labels, I have conquered my ego'.

    This generation is doomed.

  5. @MYD88-3p22

    February 4, 2025 at 4:34 am

    Who are you without your labels and roles? How much have you lost just to fit one including integrity? How many have ended themselves after losing their false identity built on roles and labels assigned?

  6. @JUNKYJESUS89

    February 4, 2025 at 4:34 am

    It's frustrating how people in the first world are so consumed by their indulgences and constantly worry about their waistlines or anything else they could think of that day. However, they often hesitate to give back, seeing it too close to communism. It's absurd—you're just being misled.
    Just making one change to Policy doesn't make someone a communist or a socialist.
    Psychological reservation: Modern life only confuses and corrupts success.
    Immature masculinity has completely distorted the meaning of the word "man" today.
    This is my crazy true story 2020
    I even got my wife of 13 years back after 2.5 years of being disconnected on the other side of the country.
    30 years old, I turned my back on my life to fix up my mom's house so she had a house to get old and then die in. Lol, when I was done, I was supposed to do the most foolish thing by ending myself Spoilers; I found “Subtle Art not giving a fuck”. I considered myself illiterate at 33 years old. The damn book changed my life forever, And even after all I've said, this is just the tip of my iceberg The world is Doomed as Titanic

    That's How I'm living… In living color

    Are you alive?

    So above so below as within as without. So above, so below as within as without. So above so below, as within as without.

    That I had somebody's Always guiding me the way through my journey. They are all Personal people that I Cared more for than my sense of self, pride, ego, power, and money. These people are incorruptible, so I can only give them honour with my story: people who have passed on. The only reason I've been able to be here today is if I Stand on the mountain Screaming my Resonateing Chant honouring their stories…. even the devil and god Would team up just help me at this point because all The unused opportunities in the modern world only go down the drain every second sad Waste of skin gone with the wind

  7. @aasthadas3787

    February 4, 2025 at 4:34 am

    Labeling is a cognitive process that our brains use to categorize information quickly, helping us make sense of complex environments. This process is natural but can lead to biases, stereotypes, and snap judgments, especially when based on limited information. Media and societal narratives often reinforce these labels and stereotypes by repeatedly presenting certain groups in a specific way, a phenomenon highlighted in sociological theories like the Folk Devil Theory.

    According to the Folk Devil Theory, media can amplify public fear or bias against specific groups, portraying them as threats to social order or “folk devils.” This leads society to form stigmatized and simplified views of these groups. However, it’s important to recognize that labeling, while reinforced by media, is an inherent part of human cognition.

    While we may not be able to eliminate labels from our thought processes entirely, we can reduce their influence on our actions. Psychological research suggests that acknowledging biases and labels without judgment can be more effective than feeling guilty or ashamed. Practicing mindful awareness of our labels allows us to recognize them without letting them dictate how we treat others—or ourselves.

    In summary, it’s natural for labels and stereotypes to arise as part of our cognitive process, but it’s within our control to limit their impact on our behavior. By cultivating awareness and mindfulness, we can prevent labels from influencing our actions and make more thoughtful, inclusive choices.

  8. @marioprendi8312

    February 4, 2025 at 4:34 am

    Maybe I'm thinking it wrong, but I don't like "self-improvement" as a term for myself. I think "destroying" something entirely to "rebuild" better and stronger is the right one for me personally

  9. @jamiedorsey4167

    February 4, 2025 at 4:34 am

    I'm an old nerd. I remember back in the 80s and beyond as nerd culture rose and having the nerd label went from something negative to positive. It initially felt good being able to have a positive identity like that. I kind of wore it on my sleeve for a while but at some point it did become a constraint as it became something to mold myself towards. As well as setting up a mental in group/out group dynamic. Trying to let go of the identity and just be authentic is freeing.

  10. @IbrahimKone-ix4qi

    February 4, 2025 at 4:34 am

    !I just switched up my Roth IRA to 50% SCHD, 25% SCHX, 25% SCHG, and my Roth 401k is 70% vanguard S&P 500 index, 20% vanguard growth index, and 10% vanguard international index. Seeking best possible ways to grow $350k into $2m+ before retirement.

  11. @osamaqtaitat

    February 4, 2025 at 4:34 am

    Get sick of all these repetitive talks………., like it's an OBJECTIVE TRUTH OR A GUATEED SHIT, or like life OBJECTIVELY HAS A MEANING!!! THE MAIN PROBLEM THAT WE DON'T CHOOSE TO BE HERE, THAT'S IT!!! PERIOD!! FU** YOUR STUPID, ENSLAVING, DEVASTATING, DELUSIONAL, OVERRATED, FUTILE "HARD WORK" MOST OF THE TIME

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