What Label Are You Wearing?

How do people describe you? Are you bright, smart, funny, witty? Or are you more of the analytical, quiet, type? Maybe even a workaholic? From the moment we are born, our friends, our family, our acquaintances are trying to label each and everyone of us. They are trying to figure us out, wrap us up with a bright big red bow and put us in a box. "He is so smart and so analytical. He would make a great engineer." Or maybe you've heard this: "She stays late and comes in early to work every day. It looks like we have an overachiever on our hands." Oftentimes we will learn to live our life to fit into the label that we've been given. No matter how big or small, we try to fit perfectly into that box we've been placed into. Please grab a pen and paper and take a few minutes to write down how people tend to describe you. If you need help, ask a friend, a colleague, a boss, and a family member what five terms come to mind first when they think of you. -What descriptive words or labels do they use? -What do you notice about how you feel about these words and labels? -What labels do you give yourself? -Are these labels serving you or holding you back? How? -Are they in line with your vision of how you want to be? The fantastic part about being given a label is that we can change it at any time. Simply correct others when they incorrectly comment that you are shy, outspoken, or brave or an overachiever if you don't agree with them. Stand powerful and claim who you truly are and who you want to become. Don't let others do it for you because they will probably guess wrong. Make a list of the traits that you want to be known for and look at it each morning. Put it on your mirror or next to your toothbrush. Put it somewhere you will see it every day and preferably several times each day. Think about how who you have to BE to have those traits come up in the minds of your friends, colleagues, and family members. You'll quickly notice that as you focus on this list, your actions will start to line up with the things that you value most. Your life will naturally align with your values and start to flow in the direction that you desire. So go out, create and claim your future. Get rid of those limiting labels that have been placed upon you.