@ThisisGrace21 7 August 2021 edited more from that month

The two face of labels

As I think of today's topic to write, I came across many writers who write about labels and I found out that it's the prompt #11 of @JonicaBradley in her community PromptlyJonica. If you want to join the prompt feel free to join and follow the instructions. The rules are simple: Write anything on Labels Write 100% original content Write at least 600 words (so Rusty will drop by and beer generous) Tag @JonicaBradley Join the Promptly Jonica community and submit your story or article there. HAVE FUN! As I have read many articles about labels it gets me interested about the topic and I wanted to write my own personal thoughts about it. Yes, indeed nowadays everything has been labelled and if you are, then you are either famous or an outcast. From things, situations, to feelings and human behavior had labels. Truth may hurt us but that's the ways of life. But then let's see the two sides of this so called "**Labels**" for as to see a better vision and could eventually cope up and have balance. Before proceeding I want to first define to you what I mean when I say label for us to be on the same page. **Label** according to Cambridge dictionary https://www.google.com/amp/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/us/amp/english/label *It is a word or a phrase that is used to describe the characteristics or qualities of people, activities, or things, often in a way that is unfair:* According to Collins dictionary https://www.collinsdictionary.com/amp/english/label **Label** VERB [usually passive] *Is if you say that someone or something is labelled as a particular thing, you mean that people generally describe them that way and you think that this is unfair*. **The two sides of labels** If you could observe the definition of label itself it is negative because of the word unfair. So, meaning the first face of label is negative. And in general, label is labelled as negative. How about the other face of label? Well, label at some point can be considered as positive. Because label is dependent on how you responded to it. Because if you see it closely and not just focusing on the unfair word or side of label, this could help us not encounter chaos in the future and would motivate us to not settle for less. **Label as negative** **Personal experience** As I live in this world that everything has to be labelled, I am no exemption. I could still remember how my relatives would talk behind my back and labelled me as anything they wanted to call me. "*Iyaton, biga'on, maharot, aliparot"* and so on and so forth. I didn't know they gone into fortune telling, foreseeing my future that I couldn't finish my education and would marry early because I befriend with boys, and I dress like a GRO. Am I? I have changed because you labelled be as an old lady because of how I dress before. Now that I dress differently my labelled change. I succumbed with all those. I almost died because I drown in so much labelled that I couldn't breath. **Things in general** If we could see all the products that we use are labelled. Anything is labelled. And if you could notice every year the label of anything changes. Some changes there propaganda, some their features, some others their services, some have +10% and so on. Because of this competition arises from time to time. Because of this we became ungrateful. We are always complaining as of how the other one is different from the other. Why the service is not good than the other. Why the products gets smaller. We tend to find our satisfaction but we couldn't see it. If we tend to look back the definition of label above you will see why. It's because **label is a definition of characteristics or qualities often it's way is unfair.** So, don't wonder why. Stop asking why because a label will never become fair. **Label as positive** **Personal experiences** As I succumbed and almost died because of suffocation from the labels that they have given, I realized one thing. **They don't matter.** The labels don't matter. **What matter is how I see myself and live myself.** I then ask myself. Am I happy? Am I at peace? Did I hurt someone? If I am happy and at peace and didn't hurt someone by what I am doing and how I am living then I am good. As they labelled me with all things I don't want to be, I strive myself to be on my best. I prove to them that they are wrong. Now, if you ask me if did I prove them wrong? Of course Yes. I graduated my Bachelor's degree with flying colors and at my age right now I am still single, virgin and proud. At some point I am thankful to what they labelled me because of all those labelling I strive for the best, I do my best and I am at my best right now. I don't settle for less because of labels. **Things in general** If we look at the competition that had made brougth by labels, we could see the things in it's better version. We could see that every now and then everything changes to be at their best products, best services, best propaganda. Because if not they would be left behind. Because of labels they make sure they have good quality of anything they offer because if not no one would notice. The labels brought improvements and good costumer services. Because people could easy find the best they would not settle for less. **Coping up and finding balance** I would share to you 3 things in order for you to cope up and find balance amidst this unfair judgement and labelling that the world gave us. **Take it as a challenge.** For you to cope up with all those labels thrown at you, take it as a challenge. Stand your ground and be still. Prove to them that they are wrong of what they had labeled you. Because if you won't take it as a challenge and had taken the path they believe you would have ended then it's not their lose, it's yours. In this world it's a survival game, win-lose scenario. If you don't win then you lose. If you don't let them lose then they win. Yes, it is that way. Hard it may seem to gasp but it is. **Know yourself.** With the world full of judgemental people makes sure you know yourself better than other people. Learn the the Johari's window of personality, know that there are four window of us; **open, hidden, blind and unknown.** Make sure you know all of them. For you to not be confuse on how people labelled you. Because if you know yourself more, whatever people will tell about you you will no longer be shaken because you know yourself. https://explorance.com/blog/discovering-blind-spots-in-360-degree-feedback-with-the-johari-window/ Build self-esteem. Confidence and the right amount of it could help you cope up and find balance, so better build a strong personality and self-esteem. One that can't easily be shaken. For if a person lack confidence to themselves they easily be trumpled to the labels that people tend to give them. Yes, it's not easy to build confidence but it is easily be broken just a blink of an eye. Know that it is inevitable but know also that picking yourself up after the downfall and having more confidence than before is important. Bottom line The purpose of writing this today is to let you know that whatever the labels that people labelled to you, it doesn't really matter. What matter most is how you live your life and be happy and peaceful with it. That this labels that is thrown upon as is part of life and is inevitable thus we must learn how to cope up and find balance within those labels. Taking it as a challenge is a strong stand, knowing yourself and being confident of who you are inside and out is the armor and weapons you must posses to win the battle of survival. Because my dear, if not you'll find yourself hanging in the thread like any other you see in the news. I also wanted to let you know that even with the negativity a label born to be there is still positive remains on it. Never forget to look at the bright side of everything in life. This label could also bring success to you for it help you how to become strong, and to fight, and let yourself never to settle for less. In this world full of judgement sometimes we are not the victim most times we are the culprit. We are the one who put labels to ourselves and to other people as well thus create chaos. Since we have learn how to be in the victim's shoes for once we wear the same brand and size therefore be sensitive enough to whatever we say to others. **If you don't have something nice to say then better say nothing at all -Thumper, Bambi** *Authors note:Disclaimer* *All of these are my own thoughts and perspective. Open for corrections and criticism. Except on the definition given which do have it's own attach source link.* *Lead image from unsplash* Thank you so much for reading. I hope you learn a lesson or two. Thank you so much to all my sponsors and friends for always supporting me. For the upvotes and warm comments in my previous articles. I appreciate you all. I love you 🥰😘