Here is what labels do: they put us in a box. A square. A cage. A finite unit. A stereotype. A generalisation. A commitment. A limitation.
Do you remember ever using labels as a child? Probably not. Because kids don't label themselves. They live in the moment. In complete coherence with their true selves, just as they are, now. Not yesterday, not what is expected of them tomorrow, but who they are - now.
Along the way, adults come along with their full range of labels. YOU ARE a Muslim. YOU ARE Lebanese. YOU ARE a woman. YOU ARE an artist. YOU DON'T do this and you are not that.
These labels dictate how we live our lives, what we believe in, our values and ultimately hide the real truth of who we are.
They act as a disguise and ensure we conform to society's expectations.
We start liking these labels because they make us feel safe, like we belong somewhere, to something and we exist as part of that known thing.
Without them, we might lose ourselves. Without them, we feel abandoned, disgraced and even worse, rejected.
Can you see the limitation?
Those labels stop us from being who we truly are.
We were brought up to live up to those labels and fear stepping outside of them.
Now imagine questioning each and every label you have...
Am I even religious? what is my true religion? am I Lebanese at all? maybe I just belong to Earth? Am I a woman? I sometimes feel otherwise. Am I really an artist? I might be better with analytical skills.
So here is your simple mission for the day:
Step 1: write down a description of yourself using all the labels you know. basically how we usually introduce ourselves in business meetings and interviews: "Mother of two, a yogi, vegan and love hiking" (Ahhh, I felt the pressure of living up to something by just by writing that)
Step 2: re-write your introduction without using ANY labels. Be creative, free and break all boundaries. Here is a short example: "I am light and love, I am pure energy floating through this lifetime, I am a citizen of this universe enjoying the beauty of nature and expanding into the infinite..." You get the idea?
Step 3: the next time someone asks you to introduce yourself, be creative and challenge yourself not to use any labels.
Step 4: the next time someone introduces themselves to you, challenge them to tell you who they REALLY are...no labels, just pure self-definition.
An extra tip is to use descriptions of the labels that feel right instead of the label itself. For instance, if I am a Mother, I could say "I am caring and loving to all children around me". Or if I am Yogi, I could say "I live in connection to my body, mind & spirit".
Share with me your no labels introduction. Would love to get to know the real you :)
