Why It's Time To Stop Labeling Ourselves And Those Around Us

We label others all the time. It helps us to compartmentalize situations and behaviors. Often, we’re actually communicating something about ourselves by saying, "I’m not that."
However, the fact that we label people by their behavior and characteristics can end up limiting our curiosity about a person. Our interest can end in exploring a connection with someone because we think we know who they are and that it might not align with our value system.

Imagine others doing this to you, constantly. It feels unfair, doesn’t it? But, we also do this to ourselves, willingly. And above all, we should be the ones who understand that context, nuance and a complex hive of emotions and past experiences are behind every label.

Labels end up conveying something absolute. That’s difficult to navigate away from once it’s decided. Why do this to yourself and prevent growth in other areas?

Once we start tossing labels to the side, we can truly invest in our potential.

Labels Are Messy

When you believe you can’t change because of a label you’ve been ascribed or given yourself, you start to cement the assumption that you can’t do certain things. Life becomes much more stressful when you’re trying to negotiate your way through it by avoiding tasks you "can’t" do.

And thinking about people’s personalities and skill sets in a less fixed way stops you from being an essentialist. When you deny people and yourself the privilege to change and move in a different direction, you’re denying a sense of what makes us human.

Labels take on an "all-or-nothing" meaning. Someone either is something, or they’re not; it’s our brain making irrational shortcuts.

Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/05/21/why-its-time-to-stop-labeling-ourselves-and-those-around-us/#5acbb6d7433d


Labels Are Messy...And Lazy.

Isn't self-labeling one of the main things that therapists fight every day with the patients who come into their offices? They try to get patients to "change the narrative."

I used to think I could never be a husband or parent -- didn't think I had it in me, because I labeled myself that way before I ever even tried it.

As far as labeling others, I find I tend to really like people when they show me something that I didn't think they had in them (unless it's nasty, of course). But I think you have to give people a chance to show you those aspects they don't keep on display.

Labelling someone says far more about you than it does them. In fact, as an example, when you label someone a racist doesn’t that say “I am not a racist”

Far better to actually engage in a conversation without a starting point aka “an agenda”

Once you’ve made up your mind about someone else by labelling them, no point in a discussion...as you must be far superior to them...right?

Labelling someone must make you feel superior otherwise why the label???

We've labelled each other and ourselves since time began and labels change or can change over time, the only problem with labels is when the one labelling doesn't acknowledge either a mistake or a change, same with judging we all do it.
Maybe we'd better cease verbal communication and go in for a truncated sign language that won't allow labels, judging or offence, doubt we'll have much to say after a while. A label or judgement isn't always derogatory.

Or sometimes labels can be taken the wrong way:

I've labeled myself a ninja. So far it's working for me.