I have X, so I can’t do Y.
I am X, so Y is hard for me.
I identify as X, so Y is out of the question.
I have X, so Y makes me feel threatened.
We identify with many attributes these days. Good thing too — it marks the diversity of life and heightened inner awareness.
But sometimes I get the feeling we’re hiding behind all these X identifications. Trusting ourselves less. Always having a simple, socially acceptable excuse ready.
Making ourselves more thin-skinned and vulnerable in the process.
That wasn’t the point. The new label was supposed to liberate and open us up. Give us new possibilities to unfold.
It would be lovely if we could finally take the next step and allow ourselves more “I have/am X and therefore I can do that.” If it became less about X and more about Y.
The German original lives at reinergaertner.de, my blog since before most of the internet existed (1997). Translation: AI. Quality control: me, squinting. Apologies in advance.