Do any of us really know who we are, or do we all go through life...?

Question

being a label? So and so's daughter/ son. His brother, her mother. His wife, her husband. There's the girl that works at the cinema, that's the guy that was in that commercial. You get what I am saying? We all go through life and every step of the way, we earn a new label. And all along we are losing our sense of self.


Your thoughts?

Answer 1

the label is the best way we have to define ourselves, cuz not everyone knows you. and people don't know exactly who they are until the minute before they die because that's when life's over and you're frozen in time and there's no more possibility of change for you.

Answer 2

I don't feel that way. I am a chemistry teacher, but that's what I do...it's only a small part of what I am. I am also a writer, a painter, a geocacher, a reader, an astronomer, a cat-person...each of these labels begins to shine a light on the true character of self, but there cannot be labels for everything. Others may see us in the roles for which we have labels, but you should know who you are at a level that defies labelling.

Answer 3

well labels only go so far..... partly u are right, there are always going to be assumptions and sterotypes. however, up close and in real time, as conscious beings we CAN change what people think of us, by being good examples, living happy, healthy lives. as long as you concentrate on becoming a *better* person, you will gain MORE sense of self, regardless of your labels. you can become an Awesome daughter, or a Wonderful wife, or someone's Favorite Cashier, etc etc..... what's great about humans is that we have the capacity to understand and discriminate between something as general as labels... for ex, even some animals can learn that one particular human is *nice* (leaves food and doesn't try to kill him), yet others are ones to be avoided. therefore, that *nice* human is now remembered in that animal's brain to be safe.... that type of thing. so don't be sad about the negatives in life, and get lost in the shuffle..focus on urself and ur relationship w/ God and your friends and family, and u will be remembered and cared for and appreciated, even if strangers don't know, it won't matter to u. what matters most to you, make it positive, and surround yourself with it! :)

Answer 4

I don't think about it that way at all. I agree that we are all "labeled" certain things that compare us to our roles in life, work etc...but you are who you are, you define yourself how you want to be defined. However, if you know who you are, what makes you tick, what things you like/dislike etc..then you define yourself. Of course, not everyone will see you as you see yourself, unless you talk to them and let them know there is more to you than what they see. I have no problem being a woman, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, a student, an employee or whatever...I think that there are many more roles that I play in life, and I think that is what makes life most interesting...These roles may be labels, but at the same time they help to identify who you are, as well as your emotions, your words etc..

Answer 5

Those labels are things OTHER people use to describe, pigeon-hole or regulate us. Sometimes the label is merely meant to differentiate the person they are trying to bring to mind--the girl that works at the cinema...and sometimes the label is used to dismiss the other person as unimportant.

I worry when people ADOPT labels as their own personal identity and then take on whatever qualities that label happens to have. THEN they don't know who they are.

Refuse to accept other people's labels and decide who you are yourself, without using a label at all.

Answer 6

I know who I am.
You don't have to be statistically labeled, unless, you consider yourself whatever the label is. Of course we have different titles through life, but it's not a bad thing, we're learning new things with each different "label."
It hasn't affected my sense of self. I'm me, no matter what job I have, no matter what my hobbies are, and no matter where I go in the world, I am the same person.

Answer 7

A label is just a description of how others see you. It should not define how you see yourself. If you see yourself as a label then your have lost your identity. You must regain your identity. You have a name and it is yours alone. It identifies you as a person. A label is objective and emotional. You are not an emotion it is just simple how you feel. Wake up...you are beautiful, you are self, you are real. zipora228

Answer 8

labels are just illusions - but even illusions have their value. one person can have a thousand labels put on them, but they don't define who that person is.

someone else's label doesn't have detract from your identity. depending on the label, you can incorporate part of it and take it with you if you want. sometimes labels can be gifts - if you don't think you're pretty, and someone says, "oh, you're that cute chick from the library!" then the label might open your eyes to a possibility you hadn't considered.

you might also use labels on yourself without realizing it. (i label myself a dork on a fairly regular basis.)

at any rate, labeling something like a jar of applesauce is one thing - one label, one word, one relationship, can never define who you are.

so a sense of self can be tied into labels, but it doesn't have to be at their mercy.

Answer 9

I know who I am - the labels come from other people

Answer 10

Just be yourself and know who you are. Live life at the fullest as every seconds count. Don't let this 'label' thing affect your life as we can't stop people from talking though out our lives.

Answer 11

You only lose your sense of self if you allow others to define who you are. You can still be "labelled" and still be an individual.