Who is watching?
We collect labels about ourselves — good and bad, proud and ashamed. We hold them tightly, as if they're who we are.
But who is the one noticing all these labels? The judgments come and go. Something remains.
A few labels. A moment of watching. A glimpse of what stays.
What positive things do you say about yourself? How do you label yourself when you're feeling good?
One per line. Examples: smart, kind, successful, creative, good parent...
What negative things do you say about yourself? The judgments, the criticisms, the harsh words?
One per line. Examples: lazy, not enough, failure, anxious, selfish...
What roles define you? The categories, the identities, the boxes you put yourself in?
One per line. Examples: parent, employee, introvert, perfectionist, caretaker...
Just watch. Let them pass.
The labels drifted past — good and bad, proud and painful. They came. They went.
And you watched.
You are not the labels. You are what noticed them.
Knowing this, perhaps you can stop working so hard to collect the good ones or avoid the bad ones.