The Problems With Labeling
My amazing creative friend Siara and I had a LOVELY long conversation which got on to how insidious labeling is. That whilst it defines us, everyone has their own definition of a label, and that’s the lens through which you look, so you’re pretty much never on the same page.
Another conversation with my creative-community-activist friend Simon revealed his thoughts on how labels are now having a detrimental effect on community. That many “groups” of people have now formed such tight, defensive tribes that it’s becoming a task to bring them together to create meaningful community-wide initiatives and opportunities for expression. There’s less room for exploring, celebrating, and being comfortable with the similarities and differences.
I recently saw a graphic that demonstrated current global trends: from Humans to Robots, Globalisation to Isolationism, Free Trade to Protectionism, Elitism to Populism, etc. It seems that the political, economic, and social expansion that took place in the late 1990s through the first years of the 2000s (not everywhere, granted) is now contracting, and on a HUGE scale.
The term “social isolation” is no longer confined to keeping a virus under control, but to keeping life under control and neatly packed into a safe, definable, flat pack, carbon-copy BOX.
Box Hopping
Imagine these boxes if you will. Each box is separate and labeled “Home”, “Work”, “Friends”, “Political Party”, “Sexuality”, “Gender”, “Music Taste”, “Food Preference”, “Fashion Sense”, “Level or Type of Education”, “Spiritual or non-spiritual”, “Scientific”, “Creative”, “Logical”, “Capitalist”, “Feminist”, and on and on and on.
BUT look closer and you’ll see folk lifting the lid of their box and sneaking into another box, then doing it again, and again … and you realise that EVERYONE is doing it! More than that, as they move from box to box, they recreate themselves to fit into each box – they’d likely get kicked out if they didn’t because they don’t fit in!
And if someone gets caught shifting boxes into one that a particular box doesn’t agree with or like, they get disowned, disliked, and labeled a hypocrite, or “Cancelled”.
Get Curious and Creative
We are innately Curious Creative Beings, but many seem to have dropped the ‘curious’ bit and create ourselves in ways that allow us to squeeze uncomfortably into one or two boxes so that we fit in so we’re not left out in the cold. We also try to do the same with others, so that our brains can control and compartmentalise them (a fancy way of saying, “Put them in a box”) for easy reference.
Several years ago I crammed myself into boxes I really didn’t fit into, and it was physically, mentally, emotionally, and energetically painful. It hurt because my energy was drained by being all I was expected to be for others. To help them meet their goals, live their lives, grow their enterprises, and so on and so forth. I only ever used my talents as far as I was allowed to within those tiny confines.
It took a long time to realise that in reality, no one can ever be enough for anyone but themselves, because the one thing we all have in common is that we are wonderfully unique, ever-curious, ever-creative, and therefore ever-evolving. So I got to know, curiously, and creatively explore who I am!
Look Beyond The Box
Labels and definitions are fine, if you need them, so long as you understand and accept that they’re flexible, that they evolve and adapt as you discover more about yourself. That you are your own ongoing, beautiful, intelligent creation, and that is enhanced by your interaction with those in your orbit. You absorb want you want to, and you move away from what you don’t want to absorb. Look for ways that YOU can be the change you want to see – cliché much BUT it’s a powerful way to stop focusing on the impossible task of trying to narrowly control who and what you are, and how others choose to be.
You can find out their perspective if you want to (check out Active Listening … I think I’m going to do a session on this), you
can choose to collaborate with them if you feel there’s common ground for creating change, or you can leave them be.
This way you don’t subconsciously go in deciding whether a person has anything to offer, what box they fit in … imagine the sheer freedom and relief of not having to work all that out!
Take It Bit By Bit
You can creatively, curiously, and consciously be open to unknown perspectives, possibilities, and potential that each person brings with them – and oh my goodness the surprising, amazing, liberating, and powerful gifts this brings to both you and them!
If it doesn’t work, there’s no need to take it personally, you tried with the best of intentions. You can go on your way, recreating yourself following the new knowledge and experience you’ve gained, ready for the next adventure.
It’s time to break the walls down, or at the very least install windows and doors and encourage free movement. To chuck out the rule book that says we can only be one or two things, three at most. To celebrate the unique BEings we are and all the fantastic things we bring to the feast.
It is not an easy process, it takes time to step out of the comfort zone of the box, to establish new ways of being. You’ll have setbacks, and leaps forward, but isn’t that better than enduring internal and external division, frustration, and the pain of staying in your comfort box? Why not try exploring what makes you and others unique, what you and they can do in ways that no one else can, the things that light you up?
Dynamic Tension
Does this mean that we must lose the “old ways”? Absolutely not – keep them in the ways you need to, and you can still explore and witness other ways of doing things – this duality can be held in a beautiful dynamic tension.
As Robert Frost says in his poem, “I chose the road less traveled,” more and more of us are curiously and creatively choosing it because the road most traveled has a lot of potholes that need seeing to. The Great Resignation is just one example of this – we’re once again seeing that we hold the power to choose who we are, how we work, and how we live. Forging your own path is what you were made for because no one else can bring your specific gifts and solutions that your world needs. This is how we change, evolve, and heal ourselves and the world.
Love Jx!
#curiouslycreative #creativedirection #labels #creativeempowerment #creativesolutions #creativeadventure #selfworth #positiveimpact #creativequestions
If you’re really struggling with stepping out of your box and navigating others, get in touch!
Further Support
There are various ways in which you can support yourself and call in support to help you on your way…
Going Deeper
Work With Jax
If you’re ready to be courageously empowered, to know and be assured of your intrinsic worth, to know how to deeply listen to your intuition, and be free to explore and express your authentic Creative Core for yourself, your community, and your great work in the world, I can’t wait to work with you!
Now, more than ever, we need to be capable of creatively supporting ourselves so that we can enable others to do the same – this is how you reimagine, reconnect, replenish, & rebuild yourself, your communities, & your work.
You can work with me on a one-to-one basis, or as part of group or organisation programmes, Masterclasses & Workshops to discover what you’re capable of, & try it out in a safe, supportive space.
Jump into the Jax Lovelock Facebook Group – a safe and supportive space for those who are on a journey of Creative Self Discovery and transformation, and/or support others with their own journey
It’s a place for connection, inspiration, encouragement, and up-to-date information on support available from Jax Lovelock Creative.
Discover More
Join our eNewsletter to receive more inspiration, ideas, wisdom, access to opportunities, and more - all designed to help you creatively navigate personal and professional life, and thrive!
It’s time to discover the amazing things you’re capable of! If not now, then when?
Love & blessings, Jax.