How often do you pause to consider what someone might be going through before labeling them?
We, as humans, are always in a hurry to put a tag on any person we meet, quickly categorizing them into a specific kind of human with a certain personality. There’s hardly anyone in our life whom we don’t classify in such a way. We can’t help but place people into the shelves of various personality types stored in our minds when we meet them. How somebody treats us in person or in front of friends and family really matters to us. It often defines our relationship and bond with them. Our perception of others largely depends on how we see them react to specific situations or people.
For instance, if you see someone yelling at everyone, your first thought might be, “He’s a rude person.” You’re unlikely to think, “He’s experiencing anger at this moment.” Your brain has already made a judgment, categorizing him as a rude individual rather than considering that he might be going through a difficult time that caused him to lash out. We often forget that he is also a human being who experiences and expresses a range of emotions.
How would you feel if someone defined you solely by your worst moment?
This is just one small example. Think about any moment when you met someone for the first time. Did your brain immediately label them based on the single emotion they displayed? Isn’t it strange that while we don’t want others to judge us on their first impression of us, we often do the same to them? We wish to be seen as complex individuals who experience a wide spectrum of emotions, yet we frequently deny this same complexity to others.
By labeling others based on one moment of interaction, we strip away their humanity. We ignore the essence of being human: the ability to feel and display a vast range of emotions and behaviors. This tendency can lead to misunderstandings and unrealistic expectations in relationships.
For example, when someone we know behaves even slightly differently from how we’ve categorized them, it can hurt us or make us restless. Instead of recognizing that they have the right to feel and act according to their circumstances, we may feel betrayed or confused because they didn’t fit the box we placed them in.
Do you think people are as simple as the labels we give them?
No.
Of course, this isn’t to say there aren’t genuinely mean or harmful individuals out there. But most people are not defined by a single action or emotion. They, like us, are navigating the complexities of life, sometimes with grace and other times with struggle.
So, what can we do to avoid this habit of quick judgment? The answer lies in slowing down and seeing the bigger picture. Instead of rushing to conclusions, we should strive to understand the context of someone’s behavior. Maybe they were not in the right mood. Maybe they were dealing with something challenging. Taking the time to observe people more holistically, rather than judging them based on a single moment, allows us to build deeper and more meaningful connections.
At its core, this practice is about empathy—understanding that others, like us, are multifaceted beings with a full range of emotions and experiences. The next time you find yourself categorizing someone, pause and remind yourself of this truth. By doing so, you not only honor their humanity but also open the door to a richer and more compassionate understanding of the people around you.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my article. Your support means the world to me. If you enjoyed this, I’d be thrilled if you could check out another piece I wrote alongside my fellow writer, Mah1r. I hope you find it just as engaging and thought-provoking. The link is below 👇
https://medium.com/@mah1r/is-being-myself-wrong-cfc243aa04a4
