The Weight of a Word
What’s in a word? Quite a lot, actually, particularly in relation to self-identity labels. Words are not just mere sounds or scribbles on a page; they are vessels of intention, carriers of meaning, and shapers of reality. In the Bible, according to St. John, “In the beginning was the Word.” This underscores the power of words to shape our perception of our world. They stem from a desire to communicate or express ourselves and, as such, are tools for engaging with the world and framing our understanding of ourselves and others.
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The Vibrational Quality of Words
Every word we speak carries a unique vibration. Consider onomatopoeias like “swish” or “stomp”—words that sound like what they describe. This vibrational quality is why words can be so powerful. The tone, speed, dynamic range and pitch of our words create a waveform of vibration that resonates within us and those who hear them. Words have a physical effect on our body when we speak or hear them. So harsh words do hurt. Even if we tell ourselves not to be bothered, we still feel the force of the anger in a word in our gut. And gentle words have the power to soothe us.
Cultural perceptions affect the vibrations of words because the intention of the speaker carries the word into being. For instance the word WOKE when used as a derogatory term has a different vibration to when it is used in its original meaning of someone who is awake to the issues of injustice in society. But we don’t have to accept any label given us by others as valid. If we do, however, then we best be clear about how we feel about them and their effect on us. And those feelings and effects can change according to our growing understanding and lived experience.
Labels and Self-Understanding
Labels, while sometimes burdensome, can also be enlightening. They offer insights into our identities and experiences, helping us navigate the complexities of the world. When I discovered that terms like ADHD, autism, and giftedness applied to me—collectively known as 2eAuDHD—I initially resisted the labels, fearing they would pigeonhole me. But as I embraced them, I gained a new lens through which to view my life. These words provided a framework for understanding my experiences, revealing that my challenges were not character flaws but rather reflections of my unique neurodivergence.
The Cultural Baggage of Labels
Though abandoning labels entirely is necessary in order to truly know who we are in our deepest essence, in our word-dependent world, communication necessitates their use.
Labels extend beyond personal identity; they carry cultural and societal implications. Whether we identify as male, female, trans, Black, Caucasian, or any other descriptor, these words come with a set of expectations and assumptions. They frame our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. They can also, depending on their cultural framework, distort our understanding of ourselves and others.
Where autism is seen as a ‘disorder’, do you suddenly see something wrong with yourself? Do you think you need to be ‘fixed’? Where autism is seen as a difference rather than a disorder, might you instead gain a greater appreciation for your uniqueness? Where autistic minds are honoured as having a special kind of insight that can steer humanity to stronger communities would you not be encouraged to grow into your most authentic self.
Beware the subtle influence of culture that clings like mud to certain labels. If we are not aware of them, they might drag us down. We need to choose what labels we are willing to apply to ourself wisely for the sake of our mental well-being.
The Power of Words in Self-Identity
Words are more than just a means of communication; they are powerful tools that shape our self-identity. Being labelled as something culturally seen in a positive light tends to have a positive effect on our sense of identity, but the opposite is also true. Labels we or our community see as negative or limiting are not helpful words to use in relation to ourselves – not unless we are strong enough to ignore the negative overtones.
Self-labelling has the strongest effect on our sense of identity. Self-adopted labels can make us become more of what we think we are, even to the point of rejecting lived experience that might tell us differently. This is the power of words as labels and how labels affect identities. We need to be careful about what labels we’re willing to apply to ourselves and look for a positive view of any label we adopt.
The very same word can have a positive affect on one person and a negative affect on another. This depends on the cultural practices associated with the word and whether its application to the individual is due to self-labeling or being labeled by others. We are less likely to self-label with a word that has negative overtones to us.
Words that describe our identity can unlock hidden aspects of our personality that we might otherwise suppress. The application of the label ‘twice exceptional’ to me by a psychologist was a revelation that has had a profound impact on how I perceive myself and my journey from birth to death. Twice exceptional means that you are gifted as well as neurodivergent. Though I knew I wasn’t normal, I’d never considered myself gifted, and my research on what that meant and my search for how it manifested in myself opened up a whole new level of self-respect that has, even at this late stage in my life, allowed me to blossom in ways I haven’t done before. This is an example of healthy identity effects stemming from a label, but it could have been negative.
Unfounded Fear
As it was, my fear of being limited by these kinds of labels was unfounded. They have, in fact, had the opposite effect. Recognising myself as 2eAuDHD has been a liberating experience. Mind you, I haven’t seen or used my neurodivergence as an excuse – just an explanation – or even considered it a disability given how well I’ve managed despite my challenges, nor have I allowed it to define me. And perhaps that’s the most important point when it comes to embracing such labels – don’t allow them to define you. Always realise that you are much more than any label.
Whether or not a word has a positive or negative connotation in our mind, it is just a word. A mere label, not the person or thing to which the label applies. A word may be a good description of who we are, but allowing a label of any kind to define us restricts us to the limitations imposed by the label. Labels are useful in a world in which words are necessary, but we need to remember that a label is, after all, just a label. It points to something, but it is not the something itself.
Beyond labels
Many words can be used to describe me – and you. I am more than 2eAuDHD. I am also an author, an artist, a mother, a wife, a teacher, an editor and so on. Yet, in truth, I am none of these labels.
I am beyond words.
We are not our label. We are not the words used to describe us.
We are more than any word could ever possibly express.
Have you found any label liberating? Or confining? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Introspective AI art images by Tahlia Newland. Tool: Midjourney.
