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?
     

Names Hold Great Power, Often Negative Power

 

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 
         

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?
     

What You Call Something or Someone DOES Matter

 

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

        

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?
     

Naming DOES Matter

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

         

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?
     

What You Call Something or Someone DOES Matter

 

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

         

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?
     

Choose Carefully How You Refer To Yourself and To Others

 

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

         

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?
     

There is Great Power in Naming

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

         

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?
     

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?
     

Seeing Unexpected Beauty

A flower is a weed seen through joyful eyes.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

It all depends on how we look at things,
and not how they are in themselves.
- Carl Jung

Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.
- Franz Kafka

See beauty in unexpected places.
- Mary Anne Radmacher

People only see what they are prepared to see.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The virtue of anyone or anything is solely in our perspective.
See gold, and there is gold; see lead and there is lead.
If you see this thistle as a thorny nuisance, then it is a weed.
If you appreciate its bright pink bloom, then it is a flower.
It becomes what you name it.
The power is in your choice, your perspective, your speaking.

Further reading: Your Point of View

Be an Observer

What One Emphasizes

Open Minds

What You See

Beauty is Everywhere

Labels

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.

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

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 are for cans, not people.
- Anthony Rapp

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

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

Further reading: Categorizing People

What Do You See?

Perspective

Judging Others

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil

Perception