Some labels stick harder than facts.
When a kid is repeatedly told they’re “bad at school,” “lazy,” or “a problem,” it stops being feedback and starts becoming identity.
That’s what makes one early Simpsons episode, ‘Bart Gets An F’ hit hard.
Bart is written off as the failure. Over time, he starts to believe it’s not just what he does — it’s who he is.
So when he finally puts in real effort and still fails, he breaks down.
Not because of the grade.But because it confirms the story he’s been carrying about himself.
That’s the self-worth trap:When labels become identity, failure feels like proof, not information.
Bart didn’t need a better result.He needed a different relationship with himself.
What label did you take on early in life that you might still be living from today?