Label me this...

A few weeks ago I had someone ask me a question about labels, and the labels that have been placed on them.  I have been thinking about what my own beliefs are on labeling; and I have come to the conclusion that we all need labels.  Now, I am not saying that we as people need to be labeled, but in order to process things, we tend to label them.  Was it a good, or a bad day?  Was that song happy or sad?  Was that person goth or emo?  It is when we begin to label people that we get into trouble, or at least this is where we start to judge people.

I still label people, after months of training and being aware that I have judgment toward people, I still do it.  I see people at the mall who I assume are looking for attention by the way they are dressing; then I think of myself: I wear shoes that are covered in glitter on a regular basis.  I look at people who don’t have the same values that I do, and I start to think that they are wrong for what they believe in.  We are human; we label, we judge and we compare ourselves to others – because we always want to feel better than someone else.

Now that I am able to admit that I place judgment on people that I don’t know, I am also the first person to tell you that I am willing to give that person a chance and allow them to “prove me wrong.”  I have friends right now that I thought would never like more, were too smart for me, or too popular for me.  I love that one of my really good friends is a die-hard Republican; while I am a very liberal Democrat; yet we can still be friends and I love spending time with her. See what I did right there?  I just placed a label on me and my friend.  I used these labels as a way to describe us, but I am sure that you all have a different idea of what a Republican and a Democrat are.

I have many labels that I place on myself: democrat, educated, funny, and overweight, a girly girl, a big sister.  Some of these labels are positive and others can be viewed as negative.  I have placed the labels on myself based on what society has set as the norm.  Some of these labels are totally me – I love pink and glitter and make up and if were acceptable for a 26 year old women to wear a crown every day I totally would!  What I am trying to say is that if you like the label that has been placed on you, or you have placed on yourself – work it!  If you don’t like a label, change it – prove the world that they are wrong about you.

Labels are a hard thing to deal with.  Yes, they can get easier with age, but I know people who are still dealing with the labels that were placed on them in high school.  Are you happy with whom you are?  If you answer is yes, than who cares what the haters thing, you are amazing!  If you aren’t happy with who you are- what are you going to do to change it?  You control you happiness, don’t let the others bring you down.  If you want help with the labels that have been placed on you – check out my website www.andconfidence.com – maybe coaching will help.  Just remember that you are amazing, you are wonderful, you are the only person just like you on earth, you are unique, and you are perfect!

You have it all & Confidence,

Lyndsay