Why It’s Bad To Label Yourself

By: Naomi Teeter

Society is crafty– It’s a huge label making machine. We get a sticker slapped on us like a glass jar of dry beans or a box of markers. Over time, it has labeled me as a woman, sister, daughter, wife, friend, student, author, library technician, runner, mentor, volunteer, health advocate, health coach, Christian, Liberal, entrepreneur, pet owner, child abuse survivor, white trash, drunk, fat girl, loser, addict, analytical, introvert, etc.

Clearly, some labels are nicer and more forgiving than others. And whether we care to realize it or not, labels create our identity. They shape our destiny. They limit what we allow ourselves to become.

We all have weaknesses and strengths, but they should not define who we are as a person and what we are capable of in the future.