Key points

Fixating on your title shrinks confidence and self-esteem.

Being tethered to a title is part of the identity trap—and social media is making it worse.

Spot the five warning signs of title fixation and find your freedom.

Mom, manager, model, or maverick? Which are you? You may be all of these—or none of these. The problem starts when you believe that a title defines you. When that title changes, your self-worth and inner compass can disappear with it—or even induce crisis. That’s the identity trap .

Social media nudges us closer. Every post you send or every image you curate invites comparison and approval-seeking .

If your title vanished tomorrow, what would be left?

When your self-esteem rests on others’ approval, researchers call this contingent self-worth.

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