Titles & Labels

As we proceed in life, we will earn a lot of titles. From our job, with our friends and inside our family we will have titles. In our job we have job titles like XXX Executive, XXX Managing Director and so on. With our friends or family, the titles are what is commonly known as nicknames. Some of us like the nicknames but most of us I am sure do not like it. Even nicknames are split into two groups, one that is given behind your back, that is how your friends refer to you behind your back and another that nicknames that you are commonly known in your group of friends.

Some of these titles reflect a certain labels that people have on you. For instance, Stupid Man, Einstein, Free Man and so on. "Stupid man" I am sure is a label that is given to a supposedly stupid man. "Einstein" is usually given to one that is very smart and nerdy like me. :P and need I say more for "Free Man"? Hahaha!

Most of us sometimes really let these labels affect how we take actions. How? Let me give you two common examples. In a job, sometimes you are faced with a dilemma. Should you take a risk to solve a problem? If the solution works, you will be labeled as 'smart' in the company but if the solution does ont work. you will be labeled as 'stupid' or 'idiot' or worst 'imbecile' in your company and you might have to live with these labels for sometimes. Because of these negative labels, one would seldom want to risk it.

Another common example is, let's say you found out that you like someone, then comes the problem of whether should you let the person know your feelings or not. Because if she reciprocate, you will be labeled as 'brave', 'smart', 'lucky' and all the nice labels that is applicable. But if she does not, then you would be embarrassed, be scarred by this failure, be labeled as 'wishful thinker', 'failure', 'stupid' and all the negative labels that are applicable. So in the end, because of your great fear of failure and negative labels, you decide to hold your tongue and in the end forestall what could have been a good and happy relationship.

Now if you think carefully and read carefully, all these are words and, seriously, all these labels are really temporary. Why I said they are temporary is this. Very simple, if a person that you labeled 'stupid' starts taking action that reflects that he is smart. Are you still going to continually call the person stupid? I think if you do that, other people might start saying that you are stupid instead.

If many bad things are happening to you and you start to label yourself as 'unlucky'. Now if YOU start looking at the positive side of things, I am sure you will start saying that your luck has changed because all the good things are happening to you. The label of 'unlucky' has been broken because you change your focus.

If you like a certain person but in the end was rejected. Other people may label you as 'failure' or 'stupid' but if you start to take actions that show otherwise, do you think people will continue to call you a 'failure' and 'stupid'? And if the other party is someone risking getting a TEMPORARY negative label why not?

And you can see from here, how temporary such negative labels sticks to you truly depends on the actions you are taking. It greatly depends on yourself.

The truly wise one can relate labels to actions or to the person.

Make your actions congruent with the labels that you want as a person. Be able to see that negative labels can be limited to the particular action that you took. Don't let words stop you from chasing what you want. Always remember you can make these labels temporary or permanent (till your death).

Cheers!