Labels!!! I need some volunteers

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:57 am

Labeling yourself as stupid could mean that you are telling yourself that you never do anything right, that you always make mistakes, that you can't understand or comprehend anything. Exposing this in your response could be "How ridiculous, just last week I fixed a complicated computer program glitch and did it right." "I don't always make mistakes- yesterday I put together a bookcase without one mistake and balanced my check book down to the penny. "I may do some dumb things now and then but this does not make me stupid." (according to my definition)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:00 am

Stupid can cover alot of things,but for me I view people as stupid if they don't think before they act. Because usually a little forethought can prevent mistakes. The embarassment issue is wrapped up in it too. People who don't think usually end up embarassed, and I don't like being embarassed or mocked. Standard operating procedure in my home growing up was to find a person's weakness and then call everyone's attention to it and make fun of them--loudly. Being sensitive, this usually brought me to tears, which in turn was mocked also.

So I know that's a complex definition, but that's what stupid is to me.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:18 am

Ok i'm going to give an example before answering some of the responses. I just did this today.

-A Lazy person is someone who isn't constantly productive
-> Then nobody can be lazy because any activity that's being done produces something. Playing videogames can give someone a sense of accomplishment and thus increase confidence, meditation can help decrease stress, spending time on msn can help establish connection with other people, watching tv can help to relax, even doing nothing like lying down in bed resting or sleeping gives the body the chances to rest up and heal. Any activity we do is productive.

Mike

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:22 am

liberal1964...i'm not even sure what one to work with...you gave me a few labels and i'm actually feeling a little overwhelmed by it. Hmm ok lets work with the outsider one

Is it safe to say that an outsider is someone who isn't like anybody else and isn't understood by others?

Mike

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:29 am

Mary

Ok so a stupid person is someone that never does anything right and always makes mistakes and can't understand or comprehend anything.

Yes those are good responses. You cannot be a stupid person because you comprehended a computer program glitch fixed it, didn't make a mistake putting a bookcase without one mistake and balance your check book.

One thing I'd like to suggest is to look at all the everyday things you do that goes against this belief..ie you can tie your shoes right, you can walk, shower, brush your teeth and you can comprehend enough to conversate on this website and enough to go through this Combatting Stress and Depression Program program.

How do you feel after reading this post? If you still feel like you are stupid then you may want to redefine stupid and try again.

Mike

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:40 am

New_Nana

Ok so a stupid person is someone who doesn't think before they act?

(that sounds just like how my family communicates and I find that sickening)

You probabbly wouldn't want to feel embarassed or mock cuz if you're like me then it would just bring up those feelings when you got mocked by family members.

Well according to this definition we would all be stupid as there are many things we don't think about before acting...ie walking, brushing teeth, using the bathroom. If we're all stupid then can it really be a bad thing to be stupid?

I think this label stupid will help alot of us out, me as well. I'd like you to redefine what a stupid person is again and i'm going to put my own definition up here.

Mike

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:49 am

Although I've pretty much worked out of this label with myself a long time ago, looking at all the everyday things that go against this belief is very helpful. I can see where being as detailed as possible is a good thing to do.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:50 am

Stupid is someone who acts in a way that isn't approved of by people

->All or some people?

-some

->Well then everybody would be stupid as there are people who won't approve of the way we act no matter what we do.

-Ok so stupid is someone who is weak & vulnerable

->Are there not times in everybody's life where they're weak & vulnerable?

-Yes

->Then everybody would be stupid and it must not be that bad of a thing to be stupid then.

-A stupid person is someone who doesn't know how to respond in situations

->All situations or some situations?

-Some because nobody can know how to respond in every situation in their life

->Do I not know how to respond in any situation?

-No, I know how to respond in some situations

->Then I cannot be stupid according to my definition

-A stupid person is someone who gets insulted by others

->That would make many people on earth stupid as we all get insulted at one point or another. The worth of a person isn't measured by the response of another.

After reading this I would like to know how you guys feel

Mike

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:01 am

Ok, so a little deeper than not thinking before acting or speaking is someone who knowingly says or does something to embarass others. But I'm not sure I view this as stupid anymore, I think my label would now be "mean".
It's really interesting how this shift is closer to the core of my anxiety. (Even if it is a bit off topic)

So back to stupid; someone who lacks common sense or who ignores it.

I'm interested to hear your definition.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:05 am

I see now how this works. And basically you are debunking your own labels. This is a great tool because you there really is no such thing as always or never. Any label can be torn down with this method.

Back to my second definition: someone who lacks common sense or ignores it.

We've all done that at one time or another. And whatever the reason, ignoring common sense doesn't make you stupid. It just means you've had a momentary lapse. Therefore I'm not stupid, just human.

Very helpful. Thanks Ninja!