In professional circles, there’s often an unspoken rule: to succeed, you need to project a clear, focused image. You’re the analytical numbers person, the empathetic team leader, or the creative visionary. This pressure to neatly define ourselves—to fit into a single box—can feel overwhelming, as though the more narrow and polished our persona, the more credible and marketable we’ll be. But this narrowing of identity comes at a significant cost. Not only does it limit our full self-expression, but research also shows it can hinder our overall success, creativity, and resilience.