The Limitations of Labels
The Limitations of Labels
I was recently hit "smack dab" in the face, yet again with the limitations of labels. It has caused me to observe more closely the insidious prevalence of this prejudicial form of thinking and communicating. Even as I write this I already appreciate that I will fall into labels!
In June at a leadership conference I met two amazing individuals, Iman and Kalin. Their thoughts on leadership and contribution were articulate and enlivening. They were "selling" their insight at a silent auction and I made a decision that I wanted to buy some of it! I realize now that I had already labeled them. That discovery has humbled me deeply.
Iman and Kalin are young adults and university students. (Note the labels!) My thoughts in "buying" some of their time was to explore their perspectives further and to provide me with a better understanding of "young leaders" today. What I forgot was that first and foremost they are unique individuals. I was labeling them as "young leaders". As if that wasn't bad enough, I then asked them to speak on behalf of everyone that fell into their age group! Luckily my friend Brad, as well as Iman and Kalin themselves, quickly pointed out my limiting perspective. It was an eye-opener and I sheepishly apologized. We moved on to a lively and meaningful conversation and I watched closely for any more of my assumptions!
Labels are assumptions. The moment we say someone is old, young, gay, Christian, Muslim etc., we are unconsciously making many assumptions. We are attaching our own view to what that label means. We have already moved into our predetermined perspective. We have taken the individuality of a human being and neatly placed it into a box of our own limited understanding.
Labels reduce our curiosity to explore the special qualities of each human being. The moment we label someone we assume many aspects of that person based on our own experience of the world. Along with that we also carry the prejudices we have learned over our life time. Have you ever heard any of the following? Young people today are disrespectful. Elderly people are forgetful. Christians are kind and loving. Muslims are aggressive. Gays are effeminate and dramatic. There are infinite examples of generalized views. Many assumptions hold underlying beliefs that are damning and dangerous to our individual and collective well-being.
Creating categories for organizing thought and communication is unavoidable and necessary. It permits us to create some common concepts of understanding. And yet labeling carries with it all the unconscious prejudices that separate us from truly appreciating one another. Labels allow us to self righteously pigeon hole another in a most unconscious way. If we are to use them at all, we need to be mindful of the limitations.
What makes this world so deeply sacred and astounding is the infinite diversity in every being, every experience and every moment. The individual uniqueness of each human being takes a lifetime and beyond to fully appreciate. Each of us has a contribution to make and a purpose to fulfill. Why then do we limit that possibility through intellectual rhetoric and closely held judgments related to the labels we attach?
I challenge all of us to step into full awareness of how often we are limiting ourselves and others simply by the demeaning practice of labeling. Let us all move beyond our assumptions. Let us look up into each others eyes, in a greeting filled with tolerance, curiosity and compassion. Let us open ourselves to our individual and collective potential for possibility.