Turn It Around
We live in a culture that uses labels
as a means of understanding the world
and the people living in it.
As a result, many of us find ourselves
laboring under a label
that has a negative connotation.
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Unless we can find a way
to see the good in such a label,
we may feel burdened
by an idea of ourselves
that is not accurate.
…
It is important to remember
that almost nothing in this world
is all good or all bad,
and most everything
is a complex mixture of gifts and challenges.
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In addition, different cultures
revere certain qualities over others,
but this does not mean
that these qualities are inherently good or bad.
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For example, a culture that elevates outgoing behavior
will label an introvert in a negative way,
calling them antisocial.
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In truth, the ability to spend time alone
is one that most great artists, mystics, and visionaries share.
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Owning the positive side of this label
can lead us deeper
into our gifted visions and fertile imaginations.
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When we look into the lives
of any of the great people in history,
we always find that they had quirks and eccentricities
that earned them less than ideal labels
from the societies in which they lived.
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Many famous artists and musicians
were considered to be isolated loners
or disruptive troublemakers,
or sometimes both,
yet these people altered history
and contributed to the world
an original vision or advances
in our understanding of the universe.
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If we can remember this as we examine our own selves
and the labels people use to describe us,
we find that there is a bright side to any characterization.
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If you have been labeled,
remember
that all you have to do to see the positive side
is to turn the label around.
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For example, you may be considered to be overly emotional,
and the fact that you are perceived this way
may make you feel out of control.
But notice, too,
the gifts of being able to feel and express your emotions,
even in a world that doesn’t always encourage that.
…
You might begin to see yourself
as brave and open-hearted enough
to stay alive to your feelings.
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You may also see
that there are certain paths and professions
in which this is a necessary ability.
…
As you turn your label around,
the light of your true nature shines
to guide you on your way.
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Spiritus Silentium 
