Capability vs Identity

We don’t actually need to solve problems, but ourselves. That’s where  the true solution begins.

Doing or being capable of doing is great. But being — that is, identifying too closely with what we do — can quietly become detrimental.

For instance, being good at problem-solving is admirable. But the moment we start seeing ourselves as the problem solver, we tether our identity to the presence of problems.

We tie our sense of self to their existence. And without them, we feel lost, adrift, or in some kind of identity crisis.

Much like a boat tied to a dock can't explore the vast ocean of life and experience, we too become stuck — anchored not by our potential, but by our labels. The sole purpose boat is accidentally defeated when anchored. 

This is the trap, my friend: the ego seeks continuity and conformity, and it clings to the role, not just the action.

The ‘problem solver’ then anxiously awaits the next crisis — not for the love of resolution, but to avoid the fear of purposelessness.

And that's how what was once a strength becomes a subtle prison — a vicious cycle wrapped in virtue.

The real danger isn’t in the doing, but in letting the doing define the being.

— whispers of minds shared with an old friend, Prashant Mishra 🍃

C Abhay