Knowing thyself is one of the building blocks of success in anything we do. It is important to understand our strengths and our weaknesses as well as our flaws and redeeming qualities. Putting labels on ourselves allows us to follow a code of conduct, set a standard and show us our road on the map of life. Labels have great benefits when written correctly, but it’s important to leave room for change and improvement.
I work at a youth residential treatment center and it is here that I witness the the pros and cons of labeling oneself. A lot of us grew up with one or two labels strapped to our ankle. I grew up as the kid that always took the dare or always put on a show for the entertainment of others, the “crazy” kid. I partied, I vandalized, I fought, I adventured, I joked, I was impulsive, I lived day to day with a focus on making memories. After high school I still felt the obligation to be that same person because it was what was expected of me by my peers and even myself. I felt like that was my identity and whenever I felt lost I would resort back to that behavior, which in turn allowed me to feel like myself again. Getting older has revealed the inevitable truth that we as humans are not meant to be stagnant, we are meant to evolve.
Once the crazy kid that jumped off rooftops and streaked at football games, I am now the crazy guy who takes spur-of-the-moment trips across the US and spearfishes in The Rocky Mountains (no joke). I am a big believer in turning negative experiences into positive triumph and labels work no differently. At my place of work I see a lot of kids who base their actions on who they see themselves as and they find it difficult to transition out of that character. They see themselves as the rebel, the leader, the fighter, the party animal, etc. but they only see one side of the structure. Instead of breaking the rules, can the rebel suggest new rules? Does the leader only lead or are the greatest leaders the best students? Must the fighter only attack or can they be the defender? Does the party animal only drink and entertain or can they inspire others to grab life by the horns? Perspective is everything.
The positive side of labels is they give us a sense of direction, a sense identity we can hold ourselves accountable to when we find ourselves facing obstacles. The fighter knows they have to step up when others don’t have the strength, just as the party animal gets you off your ass when you’ve found yourself in a rut. I see the restrictions of labels when I look at Hollywood celebrities. Emma Watson is the college educated, women’s activist who is just an overall great representation of professionalism and class. God forbid she likes to grind at the nightclub! Charlie Sheen is our beloved “bad boy” of the movie industry, but is he really still Charlie Sheen if he goes on bike rides with the elderly on the weekends?
We don’t need to limit ourselves to one standard or character. You can be the bad boy and still be a nice guy, you can be a fighter and still practice self discipline, you can be a leader and still be a life-long student. Don’t let someone or something define you, be indefinable.
Rogue NPC 