Breaking Free from the Boxes: Ivan Forbes Reveals the Truth We’ve All Been Waiting For

Ivan Forbes’ book, The Box They Put Us In, empowers readers to explore societal expectations and rediscover their true selves.

Nov 23, 2025

Have you ever felt like you were living someone else’s life?

You wake up every day, go through the motions, do what’s expected of you, and yet something feels off. You’ve checked all the boxes. Career, family, success, appearance, and achievement, it’s all there. But deep down, you know something’s missing. You know there has to be more than this life that’s been mapped out for you.

This feeling of being trapped isn’t unique to any one person. It’s universal. The truth is, most of us live in boxes, boxes shaped by societal norms, family expectations, cultural conditioning, and self-doubt. But what if I told you those boxes aren’t yours? What if the limitations you’ve believed in were never real? What if everything you’ve been told about who you should be was a lie?

This is the powerful and liberating message of Ivan Forbes’ book, The Box They Put Us In. Unlike the typical self-help books that focus on formulas for success or personal improvement, Ivan’s book isn’t about telling you what to do. It’s about helping you wake up to the truth that’s been there all along, inside you.

A Wake-Up Call for Anyone Trapped in Expectations

The inspiration for The Box They Put Us In didn’t come from an external source. It came from Ivan Forbes’ own personal journey of feeling trapped by the roles, labels, and expectations imposed on him by the world. Ivan isn’t a guru on a pedestal; he’s a man who has lived through the same struggles many of us face, working hard, achieving success, and still feeling unfulfilled.

“I spent years living in a way that I thought I was supposed to,” Ivan shares. “I did everything society told me to do, work hard, show up, succeed. But even after all of that, something still felt missing. I couldn’t understand why I felt disconnected from my own life. That’s when I realized: I had been living in a box, one created by the expectations of others. And the real me was buried under all those layers.”

For Ivan, the breakthrough didn’t come from more achievements, better accomplishments, or external validation. It came from looking inward, asking hard questions and facing the uncomfortable truth about who he had become versus who he truly was.

“I realized that everything I had believed about myself wasn’t my truth,” Ivan explains. “The limits I thought I had, the fears that held me back, and the identities I had adopted, none of them were really mine.”

This realization set him on a path of self-discovery that led to The Box They Put Us In. The book is not just a reflection of his personal journey; it’s a guide for anyone who feels constrained by the invisible boxes they’ve been placed in. It’s an invitation to explore and rediscover the truth of who we really are.

The “Box” Everyone Lives In

One of the most striking ideas in The Box They Put Us In is that everyone lives in a box, whether they realize it or not. These boxes are not physical. They are emotional, mental, and societal constructs that limit who we are and how we show up in the world. The box could be a set of beliefs, a role we’ve been told to play, or a fear that holds us back. It could be the idea of success that doesn’t really resonate with us, or the feeling of being judged for who we are.

“People live in boxes, and most don’t even know it,” Ivan says. “They think they have to fit into these predefined roles, whether it’s the ‘perfect’ parent, the ‘successful’ entrepreneur, or the ‘ideal’ friend. But what if all of those boxes are just illusions?”

The powerful question Ivan asks in his book is simple yet profound: What if the limits you live by were never yours to begin with?

This question is a catalyst for reflection. It challenges everything we’ve been taught about who we should be and opens up a space for possibility. It encourages us to question the narratives we’ve been given and to consider the possibility that our true selves are waiting just outside the boxes we’ve built for ourselves.

Permission to Be You

The central theme of Ivan’s book is permission, not permission from others, but the permission to live authentically. For many of us, we feel like we need someone else’s approval to follow our own path. We seek validation, external recognition, and confirmation that we’re doing things the “right” way. But Ivan’s message is clear: You don’t need anyone’s permission to be yourself.

“Once I realized that the life I was living wasn’t mine, I gave myself permission to break free from it,” Ivan explains. “I stopped worrying about what others thought, stopped trying to fit into someone else’s mold, and started living on my own terms. That’s when everything changed.”

The permission to be yourself is liberating. It’s the freedom to let go of expectations, whether they come from family, society, or even from within yourself, and to start living based on your own desires, values, and truth. It’s the freedom to let go of who you should be and embrace who you truly are.

A Simple Yet Deep Approach to Awakening

What sets The Box They Put Us In apart from other books in the self-help and personal development genre is its simplicity and depth. Ivan doesn’t use complicated terminology or complex theories. His writing is clear, relatable, and down-to-earth. The concepts he shares are profound, but the way he presents them makes them accessible to anyone, regardless of their background or experience.

“I wanted to write a book that wasn’t just for people who are already on a personal development journey,” Ivan shares. “I wanted it to be something anyone could pick up and immediately connect with. The message is simple: You’re not stuck in the life you think you’re living. You have the power to change it.”

The writing itself is described by many readers as a “mirror held up to the soul.” It’s a reflection that helps you see yourself as you really are, without the layers of conditioning or fear. It’s the truth spoken in a way that resonates deeply, stirring something inside you that you may not have even realized was there.

How The Box They Put Us In Is Changing Lives

The emotional impact of Ivan’s book has been profound for many readers. It’s helping them understand that they are not alone in their struggles to break free from the boxes they’ve been placed in. The book is a wake-up call, a guide to rediscovering your true identity, and a tool for transformation.

“The book gave me the words for the feeling I’ve always had,” one reader shares. “I knew something was wrong, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Now I see it clearly. I’ve been living in someone else’s box, and I’m ready to step out of it.”

Another reader writes, “Ivan’s book gave me permission to stop following someone else’s idea of happiness. I’m finding my own way now, and it feels amazing.”

A Guide, Not a Guru

What makes Ivan’s approach so refreshing is that he doesn’t position himself as an expert with all the answers. Instead, he’s a guide, someone who has walked the path of self-discovery and is now sharing what he’s learned. He’s not telling you how to live; he’s simply helping you see the path you can walk on your own.

“I’m not trying to be anyone’s guru,” Ivan says. “I’m just a person who’s been through the struggle, and I want to help others find their own way. My job is to remind people that they already have the answers inside of them.”

If you feel like you’ve been living according to someone else’s rules, The Box They Put Us In is the invitation to start living on your own terms. Ivan Forbes’ powerful message will help you shed the boxes you’ve been placed in and embrace the truth of who you are.

If you’re ready to explore The Box They Put Us In, pick up a copy today and start reflecting on the possibilities that await you.

Check the reviews about the book:

karamacris_bookreviewer
Ink_well_elara
thewriters_heaven

Share on:

Copy Link

USA News Contributor

This article features partner, contributor, or branded content from a third party. Members of the USA News’ editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. All views and opinions are those of the contributor alone.

This article features partner, contributor, or branded content from a third party. Members of the USA News’ editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. All views and opinions are those of the contributor alone.

This article features partner, contributor, or branded content from a third party. Members of the USA News’ editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. All views and opinions are those of the contributor alone.

This article features partner, contributor, or branded content from a third party. Members of the USA News’ editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. All views and opinions are those of the contributor alone.

Related blogs

Related blogs

Copyright 2025 USA NEWS all rights reserved

Copyright 2025 USA NEWS all rights reserved

Copyright 2025 USA NEWS all rights reserved

Copyright 2025 USA NEWS all rights reserved