Starting to Untangle Labels

Welcome to Day 3 of the 3rd Starting to Untangle Draining Habits 7-day Challenge.

Over 7 days, we are bringing awareness to different habits that cause undue stress, suffering or anxiety in our lives. At the end of each post, we share with you one simple step you can take to start to untangle the draining habit.

So far we have brought awareness to self-criticism and procrastination.

Today we are going to focus on the habit of labels.

So let’s get started…

Draining Habit #3: Labels

There are many ways we label – from people’s gender, age, race, religion, the work they do to events and experiences (i.e. good, bad, right, wrong etc.).

On a mental level, these labels can be useful for conversing and describing people and situations. However, when we look at the fuller experience of life (i.e. mental, physical and spiritual), we start to realise there is more to people, events and experiences than these labels. Subsequently, if we believe these labels are true, we negate this fuller experience of life.

The quote by Søren Kierkegaard sums this up well – “Once you label me, you negate me.”

Challenge: Starting to Untangle Labels –

If you find yourself labelling yourself or others, remember this wisdom from the Eckhart Tolle in A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose ~ “Give up defining yourself – to yourself or to others. You won’t die. You will come to life. And don’t be concerned with how others define you. When they define you, they are limiting themselves, so it’s their problem. Whenever you interact with people, don’t be there primarily as a function or a role, but as the field of conscious Presence. You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are.”

Feel free to share your progress in the comments section below or on our Facebook page here. If you liked this series, feel free to share it with your colleagues, family and friends.

If you are ready to take yourself on the adventure of getting to know yourself (your true self), why not join the Toolkit? A place where I share tools, inspiration and ideas to live a courageous and openhearted life.

Reference –

Tolle, E. (2008). A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. USA: Penguin.