"If you label me, you negate me."
Soren Kierkegaard
Soren Kierkegaard
A nineteenth century philosopher, Kierkegaard works focused on personal choices and commitment. This quote in particular has stayed with me over the years. Labeling can be a very limiting behavior. By assigning a label to ourselves and other, we in reality can be limiting ourselves and others.
Being aware of behaviors, now that seems to be more appropriate. Consider a person who achieved success in acting and then become successful in dealing with paralysis after a devastating accident - Christopher Reeves. His label didn't make him successful. His choices and behaviors did that.
I believe it is healthier for us to consider actions and behaviors. Valuing what we can see and relate to is certainly much more significant than ascribing a label that quite honestly is just that - a label and can really be very limiting.
The person who chooses to live with little or no possessions and can live on the streets may in reality have made a conscious choice to live humbly.
Being aware of behaviors, now that seems to be more appropriate. Consider a person who achieved success in acting and then become successful in dealing with paralysis after a devastating accident - Christopher Reeves. His label didn't make him successful. His choices and behaviors did that.
I believe it is healthier for us to consider actions and behaviors. Valuing what we can see and relate to is certainly much more significant than ascribing a label that quite honestly is just that - a label and can really be very limiting.
The person who chooses to live with little or no possessions and can live on the streets may in reality have made a conscious choice to live humbly.
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