Kill the Label

Introduction:

Labels are assigned to us in many ways. It could be something we assign ourselves, or they could come from other people. With these being so prevalent in our lives, I need to ask: are they worthwhile to have? I have often found that a label doesn't suit me exactly and has caused confusion of identity in my life. I suggest a practical framework to allow you to break free from restrictive labels and find a sense of your true self using descriptions.

Photo by Jeffrey Czum: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-gathered-watching-a-panda-mascot-2346289/

Discussion:

"I am a gardener." A simple label that many feel they can associate with. But what does that mean? Does it mean you garden frequently, that you enjoy it immensely, or that you have done it for a long time? I propose breaking down this label a bit differently: "I like buying plants and putting them in the ground. I enjoy watering and tending to the garden. I tend to hate the insects that pester me as I do these things." By breaking this label into self-descriptive, detailed explanations, we can get a better sense of how it resonates with us. This frees us from restriction and grouping with those who may enjoy the hobby differently from us and frees us to enjoy something like gardening without feeling pressure to do the hobby a certain way.

This can be applied to values and beliefs as well. "I believe in God" or "I am religious" could lump you in with individuals who have a different idea of what God may be. "I am a good person" could mean vastly different things to different people. But if we break it out like this: "I am a kind person who is empathetic and caring," we can account for who we are and break free from generalized labels.

Conclusion:

I urge everyone who reads this blog post to take a look at the labels in your life. And I encourage you to journal or meditate on these and flesh them out in greater detail. I found this can lead to a better sense of self. You can include things like goals around the value/belief. As we change through life, so will these descriptions, which we can capture if broken into detailed statements.