Naming Matters

Do not say, 'It is morning,' and dismiss it with a name of yesterday.
See it for the first time as a newborn child that has no name.
- Rabindranath Tagore

Shakespeare says, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,"
but I disagree...There is great power in naming.
"Urban wall art" and "graffiti" are very different, even when they are identical.
Think of other word pairs, like "flower" and "weed" - "antique" and "used" - "freedom fighter" and "terrorist"
that greatly color our perception of the object or person being described.
Call a plant beautiful, and it becomes a flower.
Call it ugly, and it becomes a weed.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Exercise: Consider the words that you and others in your life use to describe you. If the words are not complimentary, take action to change how you refer to yourself, and encourage others to speak differently of you. For example, if you describe yourself as "shy," choose a more positive term, such as "reserved."

Further reading: It Matters What You Call Something Or Someone

Finding Balance in Life Beats Moderation 
         

To Label a Person is to Diminish Them

When we label anyone 'bad', we will have more trouble
dealing with him than if we could have settled for a lesser label.
- William Glasser

Labels have the negative value of making smaller boundaries for people.
- Michael Graves

Labels are for cans, not people.
- Anthony Rapp

People always want to put a label on you;
they always want to compare you to something.
- Carrot Top

I try to look for the good in everybody,
regardless of the way they're labeled.
- Richard Thompson

Call a plant beautiful, and it becomes a flower.
Call it ugly, and it becomes a weed.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Read about the power of naming.

Further reading: Categorizing People

Judging Others

Perspective

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil

What Do You See?
     

Describe, Don't Label

 

When we label anyone 'bad', we will have more trouble
dealing with him than if we could have settled for a lesser label.
- William Glasser

Labels have the negative value of making smaller boundaries for people.
- Michael Graves

Labels are for cans, not people.
- Anthony Rapp

People always want to put a label on you;
they always want to compare you to something.
- Carrot Top

I try to look for the good in everybody,
regardless of the way they're labeled.
- Richard Thompson

Call a plant beautiful, and it becomes a flower.
Call it ugly, and it becomes a weed.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Read about the power of naming.

Further reading: Categorizing People

Judging Others

Perspective

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil

What Do You See?
     

Avoid Labeling People

 

When we label anyone 'bad', we will have more trouble
dealing with him than if we could have settled for a lesser label.
- William Glasser

Labels have the negative value of making smaller boundaries for people.
- Michael Graves

Labels are for cans, not people.
- Anthony Rapp

People always want to put a label on you;
they always want to compare you to something.
- Carrot Top

I try to look for the good in everybody,
regardless of the way they're labeled.
- Richard Thompson

Call a plant beautiful, and it becomes a flower.
Call it ugly, and it becomes a weed.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Read about the power of naming.

Further reading: Categorizing People

Judging Others

Perspective

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil

What Do You See?
     

No Labels

 

When we label anyone 'bad', we will have more trouble
dealing with him than if we could have settled for a lesser label.
- William Glasser

Labels have the negative value of making smaller boundaries for people.
- Michael Graves

Labels are for cans, not people.
- Anthony Rapp

People always want to put a label on you;
they always want to compare you to something.
- Carrot Top

I try to look for the good in everybody,
regardless of the way they're labeled.
- Richard Thompson

Call a plant beautiful, and it becomes a flower.
Call it ugly, and it becomes a weed.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Read about the power of naming.

Further reading: Categorizing People

Judging Others

Perspective

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil

What Do You See?
     

Don't Label Others, or Let Others Label You

 

When we label anyone 'bad', we will have more trouble
dealing with him than if we could have settled for a lesser label.
- William Glasser

Labels have the negative value of making smaller boundaries for people.
- Michael Graves

Labels are for cans, not people.
- Anthony Rapp

People always want to put a label on you;
they always want to compare you to something.
- Carrot Top

I try to look for the good in everybody,
regardless of the way they're labeled.
- Richard Thompson

Call a plant beautiful, and it becomes a flower.
Call it ugly, and it becomes a weed.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Read about the power of naming.

Further reading: Categorizing People

Judging Others

Perspective

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil

What Do You See?
     

Don't Label Others, Don't Let Others Label You

 

When we label anyone 'bad', we will have more trouble
dealing with him than if we could have settled for a lesser label.
- William Glasser

Labels have the negative value of making smaller boundaries for people.
- Michael Graves

Labels are for cans, not people.
- Anthony Rapp

People always want to put a label on you;
they always want to compare you to something.
- Carrot Top

I try to look for the good in everybody,
regardless of the way they're labeled.
- Richard Thompson

Call a plant beautiful, and it becomes a flower.
Call it ugly, and it becomes a weed.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Read about the power of naming.

Further reading: Categorizing People

Judging Others

Perspective

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil

What Do You See?
     

Unique AND Highly Connected

 

You didn't get stamped out of a mold. You aren't a "black person" or a "white person," a "fat person" or a "skinny person," a "bad person" or a "good person." You are a highly complex human being with emotions, beliefs, capabilities. Each day you face challenges to your health, relationships, finances, and world-view -- and every day you respond to those challenges in ways which are unique to you.

Honor and love all of your unique self. Never diminish yourself with self-applied labels or categorizations.

Really rejoice in being yourself.
Have your own drumbeat.
- Kim Cattrall

Everyone should carefully observe
which way his heart draws him,
and then choose that way with all his strength.
- Hasidic Proverb

Today's affirmation:
I am a unique expression of the universal fabric of creation.
I celebrate both my uniqueness and my connection with all that is.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Further reading: A Mile in Their Moccasins

First-Rate Self

Accepting Our Friends' Uniqueness
      

It Matters What You Call Something Or Someone

When we label anyone 'bad', we will have more trouble
dealing with him than if we could have settled for a lesser label.
- William Glasser

Labels have the negative value of making smaller boundaries for people.
- Michael Graves

Labels are for cans, not people.
- Anthony Rapp

People always want to put a label on you;
they always want to compare you to something.
- Carrot Top

I try to look for the good in everybody,
regardless of the way they're labeled.
- Richard Thompson

Call a plant beautiful, and it becomes a flower.
Call it ugly, and it becomes a weed.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Read about the power of naming.

Further reading: Categorizing People

Judging Others

Perspective

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil

What Do You See?
     

Honor and love all of your unique self

You didn't get stamped out of a mold. You aren't a "black person" or a "white person," a "fat person" or a "skinny person," a "bad person" or a "good person." You are a highly complex human being with emotions, beliefs, capabilities. Each day you face challenges to your health, relationships, finances, and world-view -- and every day you respond to those challenges in ways which are unique to you.

Honor and love all of your unique self. Never diminish yourself with self-applied labels or categorizations.

Really rejoice in being yourself.
Have your own drumbeat.
- Kim Cattrall

Everyone should carefully observe
which way his heart draws him,
and then choose that way with all his strength.
- Hasidic Proverb

Today's affirmation:
I am a unique expression of the universal fabric of creation.
I celebrate both my uniqueness and my connection with all that is.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Further reading: A Mile in Their Moccasins

First-Rate Self

Accepting Our Friends' Uniqueness
      

Your Own Unique Self

You didn't get stamped out of a mold. You aren't a "black person" or a "white person," a "fat person" or a "skinny person," a "bad person" or a "good person." You are a highly complex human being with emotions, beliefs, capabilities. Each day you face challenges to your health, relationships, finances, and world-view -- and every day you respond to those challenges in ways which are unique to you.

Honor and love all of your unique self. Never diminish yourself with self-applied labels or categorizations.

Everyone should carefully observe
which way his heart draws him,
and then choose that way with all his strength.
- Hasidic Proverb

Really rejoice in being yourself.
Have your own drumbeat.
- Kim Cattrall

Today's affirmation:
I am a unique expression of the universal fabric of creation.
I celebrate both my uniqueness and my connection with all that is.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Further reading: First-Rate Self

Accepting Our Friends' Uniqueness

A Mile in Their Moccasins
      

Labels are for Cans, Not People

When we label anyone 'bad', we will have more trouble
dealing with him than if we could have settled for a lesser label.
- William Glasser

Call a plant beautiful, and it becomes a flower.
Call it ugly, and it becomes a weed.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Read about the power of naming.

Labels have the negative value of making smaller boundaries for people.
- Michael Graves

People always want to put a label on you;
they always want to compare you to something.
- Carrot Top

Labels are for cans, not people.
- Anthony Rapp

I try to look for the good in everybody,
regardless of the way they're labeled.
- Richard Thompson

Further reading: Judging Others

Categorizing People

Perspective

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil

What Do You See?