April Newsletter
Creating Labels
Ah, labels, how they do serve us? What assistance do they provide us? What forms do they come in? Think of the many things that we put labels on and the consequences this practice can have. They can be quite beneficial at times, right? We put labels on food packaging to help educate consumers as to what they are putting into their bodies, the consequences are improved knowledge and informed decision making. How about the labels that we put on many non-food related products? Some labels include safety warnings, some include packaging information. Consequences in these cases would be a better ability to keep ourselves and our children safe. What about where we put labels that really have no business being there? Like people, situations, events, perceptions, “our realities,” expectations, etc…. I think you get the picture.
What would happen if we lowered our expectations, just a bit, and didn’t expect everyone to do or act the way that we think they should? What would happen if, instead of making an assumption about a situation, we actually stayed present in the moment, only to let the situation reveal itself, allowing our label to dissolve away? It may be helpful if we came to realize that each one of us brings to situations and experiences, our own sets of beliefs and perceptions, instead of taking something that someone says or does so personally. Once again, allowing us to forgo our label creation. We can also expand our label creation by sharing them with other people and thus assisting them in creating labels of their own. You can see how this can happen, right? We have a perception about someone or some situation that we share with another. Then this person takes your perception, their perception and sense of reality and creates a label of their own.
Unfortunately, this process of label making can be hurtful, not only to others, but to ourselves. Some of the most dangerous and harmful labels that we create are directed toward ourselves. This is not to say that we all don’t do this at some point, we are human. It is only meant to raise awareness. The responsible party behind label creation is quite often judgment. This can be the act of judging someone else, a situation, an event or, more harshly, ourselves. So, the next time you find the creative side of yourself, busy making labels, just be aware of the consequences this action may have. Be careful where you put them. Labels can be a very limiting practice. The human brain believes only what we tell it, so if we tell it that we are not good enough for something, it will look for every bit of evidence to support our theory! These thoughts, lead to feelings which lead to action and results. Nothing good can come of that example. Leave your label maker where it belongs! It can be quite useful for scrapbooking, organizing, food storage, medicine bottles, and such, not on you or anyone else……
My Reflection
I try REALLY hard on a daily basis not to label, not only people, but situations. I find that I can easily fall into the trap of saying, “this is a really hard day,” or “that bank teller was really mean” or whatever the case may be. I find that I have much more freedom in my day, emotionally and physically if I just let the events of my day unfold without judgment. Now, I’m a very realistic woman and a mother of 2 small girls, trying to run a business, household, take care of a husband, family and social life too, so I will admit that it’s hard at times not to label my situations. I’m especially good at crafting labels for myself. You can imagine the labels that I can come up with. Trust me I can be quite creative at times! However, when I am in a mindful state, it can be quite helpful to just be. Letting each of my moments unfold, one after the other, without judgment, how freeing.
While I was running in the rain this AM, one of my favorite things to do I will admit, much better than snow, I saw a dog with his head sticking out of a car window. The rain was coming down, the car went zipping by and he was as happy as can be and I thought WOW what freedom. To be a dog, sticking your head out of a car window on a rainy day and not having a care in the world. He certainly was not labeling anything at that moment. He was simply, relishing in the moment. Be that dog today, let your labels and judgments wash away and allow your moments to just unfold, naturally without forcing or resisting. Try it just for today, just for an hour, just for a moment…….be peaceful!
Be well,
Shannon
Click here to find out What's New At Valley View Coaching
Ah, labels, how they do serve us? What assistance do they provide us? What forms do they come in? Think of the many things that we put labels on and the consequences this practice can have. They can be quite beneficial at times, right? We put labels on food packaging to help educate consumers as to what they are putting into their bodies, the consequences are improved knowledge and informed decision making. How about the labels that we put on many non-food related products? Some labels include safety warnings, some include packaging information. Consequences in these cases would be a better ability to keep ourselves and our children safe. What about where we put labels that really have no business being there? Like people, situations, events, perceptions, “our realities,” expectations, etc…. I think you get the picture.
What would happen if we lowered our expectations, just a bit, and didn’t expect everyone to do or act the way that we think they should? What would happen if, instead of making an assumption about a situation, we actually stayed present in the moment, only to let the situation reveal itself, allowing our label to dissolve away? It may be helpful if we came to realize that each one of us brings to situations and experiences, our own sets of beliefs and perceptions, instead of taking something that someone says or does so personally. Once again, allowing us to forgo our label creation. We can also expand our label creation by sharing them with other people and thus assisting them in creating labels of their own. You can see how this can happen, right? We have a perception about someone or some situation that we share with another. Then this person takes your perception, their perception and sense of reality and creates a label of their own.
Unfortunately, this process of label making can be hurtful, not only to others, but to ourselves. Some of the most dangerous and harmful labels that we create are directed toward ourselves. This is not to say that we all don’t do this at some point, we are human. It is only meant to raise awareness. The responsible party behind label creation is quite often judgment. This can be the act of judging someone else, a situation, an event or, more harshly, ourselves. So, the next time you find the creative side of yourself, busy making labels, just be aware of the consequences this action may have. Be careful where you put them. Labels can be a very limiting practice. The human brain believes only what we tell it, so if we tell it that we are not good enough for something, it will look for every bit of evidence to support our theory! These thoughts, lead to feelings which lead to action and results. Nothing good can come of that example. Leave your label maker where it belongs! It can be quite useful for scrapbooking, organizing, food storage, medicine bottles, and such, not on you or anyone else……
My Reflection
I try REALLY hard on a daily basis not to label, not only people, but situations. I find that I can easily fall into the trap of saying, “this is a really hard day,” or “that bank teller was really mean” or whatever the case may be. I find that I have much more freedom in my day, emotionally and physically if I just let the events of my day unfold without judgment. Now, I’m a very realistic woman and a mother of 2 small girls, trying to run a business, household, take care of a husband, family and social life too, so I will admit that it’s hard at times not to label my situations. I’m especially good at crafting labels for myself. You can imagine the labels that I can come up with. Trust me I can be quite creative at times! However, when I am in a mindful state, it can be quite helpful to just be. Letting each of my moments unfold, one after the other, without judgment, how freeing.
While I was running in the rain this AM, one of my favorite things to do I will admit, much better than snow, I saw a dog with his head sticking out of a car window. The rain was coming down, the car went zipping by and he was as happy as can be and I thought WOW what freedom. To be a dog, sticking your head out of a car window on a rainy day and not having a care in the world. He certainly was not labeling anything at that moment. He was simply, relishing in the moment. Be that dog today, let your labels and judgments wash away and allow your moments to just unfold, naturally without forcing or resisting. Try it just for today, just for an hour, just for a moment…….be peaceful!
Be well,
Shannon
Click here to find out What's New At Valley View Coaching
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