An American Master Pieces class and a psychology class both contributed to this thought and conclusion over the past 2-3 months. Apologies for the lack of sources, but a great author in early American history wrote a very powerful piece asking his audience to avoid labels. Psychology class talked about the stereotyping ability of labeling and the adverse affects it can have on someones self perception. I certainly relate to these claims as I quickly search through my memory and recall comments made by others who will say that I'm shy or quiet and therefore perceive myself as such and label myself as such for the rest of my life. However, the extension of labeling goes so much further than I realized.
The American author can be best attributed to the thought that labeling even exists among some of the things we do and choices we've made. The greatest example of this is our occupations. When we walk into a hospital we see the doctors and the nurses and therefore label them as such and mental distinguish them with the average qualities that every doctor or nurse should have in our minds. This occurs for every profession, police officer, farmer, president, etc. The fact that we stereotype each of these individuals is not even the whole of the issue I'm coming to however. Its how concrete we accept these labels ourselves is what I ponder about. Will a farmer always think as a farmer? Will he, simply because he's taken on such an occupation, act like most farmers do just because "thats what farmers do"?
Further pondering takes me to consider the limitation a label could impose on an individual simple because of how strongly they relate to it. Will a farmer for example, be less likely or willing to assist in a medical situation simply because they've taken upon themselves their new life of farmer? I wonder if a doctor would be less likely to chop wood or wash the dishes by hand simply because thats not what a doctor would normally be found doing? Then we must think about certain hobbies, opinions, and even political views that each of these individuals might take simply because thats what people of their profession generally accept as correct. I do personally believe that there may be opportunities, beliefs, or doings that we may avoid in life simply because that's not "us", or, in other words, thats not who we've been labeled to be.
The solution? Just as I've mentioned in the title, we reject the labels. No longer is that man growing corn a farmer, but he's a man that grows corn to provide for his family. A doctor is a man that enjoys helping others and takes time out of his day to help heal the wounds of those around of him. These are the things that they chose to do every day, not something that they have been cemented in. I am someone that loves learning about the brain. So i hope one day to learn enough about the brain that I can help people with neurological problems. But that is something that I will do and I will do it because I chose to do so. Along with helping those with neurological problems i will choose to fence, to read, to marry, to do many many things because my life will continue to be active and different, ever increasing. Avoid the stationing of labels. Avoid their ability to limit what you THINK your possibilities are. You are not the doctor, you are someone who chose to heal. In fact, the only label we can truly accept is that we are sons and daughters of God. That is the only permanent label that will allow for all of our possibilities to still be realized. And so here I am world, Andrew Berrett, one of the children of God who seeks to chose a wonderful life.
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