Labels don't just describe us. They begin to define us. They become the story we tell ourselves about who we are.

And the earlier we hear these stories, especially from people we trust and love (sorry, Mom and Dad), the more deeply they become woven into our sense of self.

Here's a truth that few people talk about:

Most depression in men goes unseen. Unacknowledged. Untreated.

Is this surprising? Not when you look closely.

Readiness is that moment of clarity. The recognition that something needs to change. The admission that the current path isn't working.

But readiness alone is just potential energy. It's the boulder at the top of the hill, stationary despite its capacity for movement.