Karl's Blog: Labels Are Ruling Your Life

Previously, in my post "They're Just Words," I spoke of the power of labels.

Often, we attach "labels" to experiences, rather than just experiencing them. And that stops us enjoying them fully.

We're too stuck in the words, rather than what's behind the words.

You are read more of my writing about labels here and here.

Today... I'm going to PROVE that these labels are controlling your life.

Below, find an image with various coloured words upon it. As quickly as you can, I want you to look at each word and say out loud the COLOR of the word.

So if a word is coloured red, you should say "RED!"

Doesn't sound difficult, does it?

Here goes...

Have you done it yet? If not, try it out!

Notice what happens?

You look at the yellow-coloured "Red" word, and rather than experiencing the "yellow" and then translating it into the word "yellow," you see "Red" and instantly say out loud "Red!"

You react to the label... and NOT to the experience!

It's an awesome revelation, and this particular experiment is based on something known as the Stroop Effect.

So, let me ask you a question.

What do you think happens when you show this to a child that hasn't learned to read yet?

To someone that hasn't yet developed their self-restricting "labels"?

You guessed it.

Happy Thursday!

Labels: inspiration, self-development