Finding Energy by Looking Beyond Yourself
Unboxing Identity and Stitching a Greater Whole
In a world where everything is connected, it’s ironic how often we feel boxed in by labels and categories. We divide ourselves by gender, race, profession, or ideology, trying to make sense of complexity. But these labels, while helpful sometimes, often trap us, cutting us off from the bigger picture and from each other.
By having the power to look beyond and lose yourself in something larger than your individual identity or circumstance, you tap into a deeper source of energy and meaning. Just like a seamstress carefully embroidering fabric, where each stitch joins threads into a greater design, or a surgeon stitching a wound to restore wholeness, our lives gain strength and purpose when we connect to something bigger.
This idea isn’t new. Cultures around the world have long understood the importance of finding purpose beyond the self. The Japanese concept of ikigai, often translated as “a reason for being,” captures this beautifully. Ikigai represents the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. It’s about finding meaning by contributing to something beyond yourself, and it encourages people to engage fully with life by embracing their unique role in a larger whole.
Ikigai connects deeply to the themes here. When we look beyond narrow labels and individual concerns to find our place in a bigger context, whether it’s community, creativity, or service, we discover renewed energy and purpose. This surrender to something greater opens space for empathy, creativity, and connection. Yet, society tends to encourage the opposite by breaking life down into neat boxes. We limit ourselves and others with fixed labels that make it harder to explore our full selves or to build broader connections. This narrowing can drain energy and isolate us.
A powerful example of breaking free from these limits is Beyoncé. She has long resisted the idea of musical genres as rigid boxes designed to separate artists and audiences. Instead, Beyoncé blends styles such as R&B, hip-hop, pop, soul, even country and rock, to create works that defy simple classification. Her recent albums make this fluidity clearly visible, showing us that identity and creativity are complex and layered, not fixed or confined. Beyoncé’s example goes deeper than music. By refusing to be boxed in, she invites us to reject limiting categories in life as well.
Our identities, like woven fabric, are made up of many threads. Embracing this complexity allows us to move beyond stereotypes and build richer relationships. The more we see ourselves as part of an interconnected whole, the less isolated and more energized we become. This interconnectedness is especially clear in moments of global crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how individual actions affect entire communities and how deeply we rely on each other. Yet divisions based on race, class, nationality, and other labels still persist, often leading to mistrust and separation.
Breaking down these barriers requires us to embrace the layered realities that shape individual experiences. Recognizing that no one’s identity is one-dimensional helps us appreciate diversity and build inclusive spaces. It’s through this recognition that we lose ourselves in a greater understanding of humanity. Looking beyond ourselves also encourages personal growth. Like Beyoncé blending genres, we can explore different parts of who we are without fear of being confined to one box. This freedom creates space for innovation and deeper self-expression.
The metaphor of stitching reminds us that connection is created with intention and care. Just as a seamstress or surgeon carefully joins pieces together, meaningful connections in life require patience and attention. Visibility and recognition of diverse identities don’t always come through grand gestures. Often, they are stitched quietly into everyday acts of understanding and solidarity. These small moments build the social fabric stronger, thread by thread.
When we look beyond ourselves and invest energy in something larger such as community, justice, or love, we recharge our spirit. The challenge is to balance the usefulness of labels with openness. Labels should help us understand differences, not trap us in boxes. By cultivating curiosity and empathy, we can unravel restrictive threads and weave a more vibrant, connected world.
 | A guest post by
|