About this quote

Letting go of a name or label can be a straightforward act that changes what people expect from you. Saying it out loud creates a boundary and signals you are no longer answering to an old role. Look at the labels you still use out of habit and ask whether they help or hold you back. Try one concrete move—stop using that label yourself or tell someone you’re changing it—and notice how others start to behave differently.

When to use it

• After the company restructured and my old title vanished, I told my team, "That name no longer has any meaning for me," and then explained the new responsibilities I wanted to take.
• When I finalized my divorce, I stopped answering to my married name and told my sister, "That name no longer has any meaning for me," because I was reclaiming my identity.
• At the support meeting I said, "That name no longer has any meaning for me" about the label 'addict' and described the new routines I would follow to stay sober.
• After retiring from pro basketball, I told the local press, "That name no longer has any meaning for me," and focused on coaching younger players instead.