Who Are You When Titles Don’t Matter?
Identity Beyond Career and Passions
When someone asks, “So, what do you do?” I often find myself stumbling. Not because I lack things to say—I do plenty of things—but because it’s difficult to distill my identity into a single, tidy answer. Should I mention my day job? Or maybe highlight one of my passions? Or should I talk about how I see myself on a deeper level? It’s a small question, yet it opens up a world of introspection. This struggle to find a satisfying answer has got me thinking about our culture’s obsession with labels and why we’re so eager to define ourselves by what we do.
The Problem with Labels
Our society loves labels. We are doctors, lawyers, artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and so on. And while labels can give us a sense of identity and belonging, they also confine us. They subtly tell us that our worth is tied to what we do, that our identity is our career or our latest project. But what happens when we no longer do those things? Or what if we do multiple things? Do we then lose parts of ourselves, or become fragmented versions of who we are?
When we let our identity be wrapped up in our work, we make it vulnerable to external forces. If success or failure at work defines us, then our sense of self is as fragile as our last performance. This becomes especially challenging for those of us with many interests, passions, or roles. When we wear different hats in different contexts, it feels impossible to fit into one neatly defined label. And maybe, just maybe, that’s okay.
The Freedom in Being Label-Free
For those of us who don’t fit into a single box—or don’t want to—embracing a label-free approach to identity can be liberating. We can be both analytical and creative, both thinkers and doers, both dreamers and realists. The beauty of having multiple interests and facets is that we’re not confined to one label; we’re open to evolving as we grow.
Rather than fixating on what I “am” in the traditional sense, I’ve come to view myself as a blend of all the things I love and all the values I hold dear. Sometimes that means seeing myself as a lifelong learner. Other times, it means embracing the creative or the introspective side. It’s okay if that description doesn’t come with a clear job title or label. It’s enough that it’s true to who I am at my core.
A Stable Foundation for Identity
If there’s one constant I’ve found that can serve as a true anchor for identity, it’s my faith. As a Christian, I strive to root my identity in something that isn’t as fleeting or transient as what I do. Work can change, interests can shift, and accomplishments come and go. But a foundation built on something more eternal—on values, faith, character—offers a stability that external labels simply can’t provide.
Faith reminds me that my worth isn’t about how much I achieve, produce, or even how many things I can juggle. It’s about something much deeper, something that doesn’t shift with the winds of circumstance. In a world that values labels and boxes, grounding ourselves in something deeper, something spiritual, can be profoundly freeing.
Embracing the Messy, Multi-Faceted You
For anyone out there who feels the same struggle with labels—who has ever felt torn between different interests, or frustrated by the need to fit into a particular mold—know that you’re not alone. It’s okay to be someone who doesn’t have one clean label. It’s okay to be a mosaic of various interests, passions, and roles. Life is rich, and so are you. Don’t limit yourself by boxing your identity into something as small as a job title or a singular passion.
Let’s redefine what it means to introduce ourselves. Instead of saying what we do, let’s talk about what we love, what drives us, and what gives us purpose. And if that answer changes over time, let’s embrace that too.