Today is the second in our two-part series on Labeling.

Last week, we looked at “why we label others, how it impacts us (and others)…and how to stop doing it.” 

In that, we explored the origins of labeling as it relates to our human brain. 

We learned that our instinct to label comes from the primitive part of our brain and that in ancient times, this ability to “INSTANTLY categorize” people and situations actually served a purpose. It helped our caveman ancestors recognize danger so they could make decisions to keep themselves safe. 

This tendency to ‘instantly label’ for modern man is counterproductive except for maybe those situations things like our brain labeling it a “super bad idea” to walk down the dark alley alone.

But other than those types of situational things, labeling doesn’t serve us in the modern world we live in. And in fact, when we label others, it keeps us apart from others because we’re standing in judgment instead of looking for opportunities to connect or learn more about someone.  

And for the person BEING labeled, it’s even worse. Labels hold people back and isolate them from opportunity and relationships.

Bottom line, we don’t want to be the person who assigns instant and unfair labels to others. 

And yet, the impulse to do that comes from the part of our brain that is ALL ABOUT instinct. The fight or flight part. The part of your brain that just instantly REACTS, without you even realizing it, because it wants to avoid danger or things that are unfamiliar. 

So, if it’s instinctive, how do we stop it? 

We stop it by becoming aware of the fact that you’re doing it.

And by deciding to consciously NOT do that by taking steps to counteract that instinctive part of your brain. We talked about how to do that in our last episode. So, if you haven’t listened to episode 33 yet, please go back and do that because I think you’ll find the self-exploratory questions and tips on how to fight that urge to label super helpful.

Now in TODAY’S episode, we’re going to look at what happens when WE get labeled. And there’s two ways that happen. 

First, we label ourselves.

And second, we get labeled by others (just like WE label THEM). 

As you know, my business is all about helping people understand that having the career and life you want comes FROM YOU. We create our success FROM THE INSIDE OUT. This is not how we think it works. We think our success comes from finding that elusive combination of ideal circumstances. 

I know that’s what I thought for a long time.

But it’s not true. If we want to achieve our goals or have the success working for others or for ourselves, it requires us to be STRONG from the inside out. 

The reason this is important is that it takes real awareness and practiced effort to overcome our brain’s primal instinct to be overly critical of ourselves. Or, to stay strong when we’re around people or in an environment that for whatever reason, doesn’t welcome who we are.

Because when we’re talking career we have to acknowledge that it involves people and people aren’t perfect. 

We’re going to encounter bullies. 

People who say rude things. 

People who stab us in the back.

Teachers or bosses who tell us we “can’t” do something or who are unfairly critical. 

Internal politics and organizational power structures that – whether intentional are not – are meant to ‘label’ others as a way of determining whether you’ll b

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