Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Feb/Mar 2019 Aspire Magazine Full Issue | Page 49

Reflect on each one. Which do you feel
good about? Which ones don’t align
with your true self?
 Where have you given labels to others
when focusing on their behaviors might
have produced a different outcome?
 When is labeling okay? What labels
are considered verboten?
 Select one of the hurtful labels given to
you. How old were you when you
received it? Where were you? Write a
letter to your younger self and reframe
the situation, removing the label and
forgiving the person who gave it to you.
Labeling children can be particularly
damaging or toxic, particularly because
we use behaviors and traits as a basis for
labels. Sensitive. Pretty. Smart. Slow. Hyper.
Athletic. Artistic. Musical. Loner. Anti-social.
Weird. Talented. Funny.
Think about some of the labels you’ve been
assigned. Who gave them to you? When were
they chosen? Do they accurately reflect who
you are today? Do you want the labels? More
importantly, how would it feel to reject the
labels you no longer want? Intriguing, right?
Pull out your journal and take some time to
reflect on how labels have impacted your
life. Do so without judgment. Remain curious
and empathetic as you do this work.
Journal Prompts:
I  n your journal, list the labels that you’ve
been given or have given to yourself.
As you move forward, pay attention to the
words you use when speaking to or about
others. Be mindful of the ways are you may
be unintentionally labeling people. Amp up
your empathy and focus on behaviors. See
what difference this brings to your life and
the lives of those you love.
If you’re interested in exploring further how
labels and their associated beliefs may
be keeping you stuck, you’re invited to
download my free eGuide entitled, “12 Signs
Your Beliefs Are Weighing You Down.”
Deborah Kevin - Deborah loves helping visionary entrepreneurs
attract their ideal clients by tapping into and sharing their stories
of healing and truth. She’s a member of the Association of Writing
Professionals, Association of Ghostwriters, and the National
Association of Memoir Writers and the Associate Editor for Inspired
Living Publishing. Her passions include travel, cooking, hiking, and
kayaking. Visit www.DeborahKevin.com to learn more. Download her
free eGuide entitled, “12 Signs Your Beliefs Are Weighing You Down.”
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 Consider each label, without labeling—
haha—it “good” or “bad.” What would it
feel like to lose or reframe it? How
would your identity be altered?