When people come to me for help, they’re often searching for answers—What’s wrong? What’s causing my pain? How do I fix this? Culturally, we’ve been trained to crave a diagnosis, a label that defines our condition and, in many cases, puts us in a box. While a diagnosis can sometimes be helpful, too often, it becomes a limitation rather than a path to healing.

Conditions like fibromyalgia and scoliosis are prime examples. Many people latch onto these labels, using them as reasons to hold back rather than push forward. I have scoliosis, so I can’t work out. I have fibromyalgia, so I can’t do that. Yes, these conditions can impact your life—but they don’t have to define it.

As a practitioner, my focus isn’t on labeling; it’s on function. When I assess a patient, I look at what’s happening in their body, what’s interfering with their ability to thrive, and how we can correct it. I don’t immediately hand them a diagnosis, because I know that too often, people hear it and stop there. Then, they go to another provider who tells them, You have scoliosis, and suddenly, that label becomes their identity, their excuse, their ceiling.

A diagnosis should never be a cage. If it helps you understand your body and empowers you to take action, great. But if it becomes an excuse to stop striving for a better life, then it’s holding you back. Instead of asking for a label, ask yourself: Am I trying to level up? Am I committed to living a better life?

Be mindful of the power of labels. They can guide you—or they can limit you. Choose the path that leads to freedom.