Chances are we all know someone with a ‘Type A’ personality; very organized, sticks to a schedule, and overall likes to keep things under their control. I always think of my sister as an example of this; she’s a great teacher who’s very structured in both work and her personal life. I’ve always been more laid back, less organized, having more of a “go with the flow” mentality. I always thought since my sister was labeled as Type A, I just was the opposite, Type B! I didn’t feel the need to try and do anything the way that Type A people did because I knew I wasn’t that type of person. I didn’t realize, but this was closing me off from a whole other way of using my brain.
We label ourselves as a way to try and feel like we’re not alone; everybody wants to feel like they’re normal and other people experience the same things as them. I label myself as a martial artist, so I have a lot of friends who are martial artists. I also label myself as part of the LGBT+ community, so I have many friends I’ve met through that community as well. These are factual labels that are part of who I am and won’t change. When I thought “I’m not a Type A personality”, I was thinking this was also a factual label and therefore closed off any ideas or techniques my sister used or suggested. It might’ve also been because we’re sisters and I wanted to do everything different than her, as siblings do.
Eventually after a couple years of college I started using a daily planner, and it helped so much with remembering all the multiple due dates, along with work and social life. I actually continued to use one after graduating and still do today, it is so useful and I wish I would’ve considered using one sooner! I closed myself in a Type B box and subconsciously didn’t realize I could simultaneously be multiple things from both labels; I still think the way I do even though I’m now more organized and enjoy my little daily planner. I see this now, for example in karate when a kid labels themselves as “not a jump kicker”, it prevents them from wanting to try and working towards it. They don’t believe they can break free from that label, when they have the potential to do so much more.
Labels are part of our identities as humans; whether you’re talking about your career, lifestyle, personality, or who you are, everybody can fit themselves in many different groups. However, be careful to not let them hold you back in the right circumstances. You can be whoever you want to be!
