It occurs to me this morning that mankind simply cannot resist the urge to categorize, to label.

I suppose a portion of this stems from noble (or at least neutral) desires – the desire to understand, to learn, to know. But almost certainly a good share voices the need to control our world. In general, we do not sit comfortably with that which we do not understand. Nobody likes an unsolved mystery. By placing a label on things (or people), we simultaneously limit them while increasing our own sense of control. How godlike.

Amateur psychology would seem to offer plenty of explanation for why we may accept the labels people place on us. While that certainly is problematic, today I find myself more fascinated by the way we accept others’ labels for … others. The funny thing is how often we are willing to buy other peoples’ categorizations of those around us. How easy we find it to consume the short-cut, ‘Reader’s Digest’ assessment of whole persons, rather than make an attempt at learning for ourselves who they truly might be. (Leaving aside for now the issue of whether they want to be known or will allow it in the first place … ha!)

Over the years, I have been categorized as both a hippie and a yuppie; an artist and a businessman, a geek and a trendsetter; a liberal and a conservative; hedonist, religious, reactionary, philosopher, writer, and wannabe. I’m sure there are many more, including some I haven’t heard. I guess what amuses me is that they can’t all be true. At least not insofar as any one of these descriptors encompasses the entirety (or even a fair portion) of who I am. The ones who truly know me welll would laugh at any one of these “boxes”.

But life in a box provides comfort to many. Perhaps that’s why we all spend so much time in cubicle-farms. And while some may find comfort in such a simple assessment, my immediate reaction to such categorizing is generally a demonstration of just how I exhibit characteristics which are precisely the opposite.

A quote from Coach Mike Kryzewski seems relevant:

“Too many rules get in the way of leadership. They just put you in a box . . . the truth is that many people set rules to keep from making decisions. Not me. I don’t want to be a manager or a dictator. I want to be a leader — and leadership is ongoing, adjustable, flexible, and dynamic. As such, leaders have to maintain a certain amount of discretion.”

I like that bit about discretion. I think all of us need to maintain some “discretionary prerogative” with regard to who we are and what we do. Don’t put a label on me! Do try to learn who I really am. I am a work in progress.

Never content to meddle just with our fellow man, perhaps the most fun of all occurs when we try to put God in a box. Steve Taylor neatly bisected human culture between those with “their god in a box” and the rest “nervously mocking heaven”. To be fair, he did allow for a few misfits as well.

I suppose I am one of these.