13 Comments
User's avatar
rei avenir's avatar

I loved this! It feels as if we don't get enough work celebrating the human condition as we do knocking it down… it's nice to find something to counteract that!

Expand full comment
krissy's avatar

Thank you so much for the kind words, Rae! You're right - as humans are so complex, but in a beautiful way

Expand full comment
Suhrudhaa's avatar

As a psychologist, I second this and I absolutely enjoyed your words. The labels are important for a professional to understand (though labels are not the only way to understand or interpret) , the labels could serve people who rely on structure that could help them feel in control and it could also work very well. On the other hand, the labels could make people emotionally restricted and might potentially lead to a diminished horizon of having emotionally rich experiences in life. Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts 🌻

Expand full comment
krissy's avatar

I love both of the perspectives you offered, Suhrudhaa. Thank you so much for the kind words ❣️

Expand full comment
Cally Lim's avatar

That's a great reminder, thank you ;)

Expand full comment
krissy's avatar

Thank YOU for reading, Cally 🥹

Expand full comment
Oliver N Mark's avatar

I like your take on it, and I totally agree that labels are just short cutting the whole getting to know you process. But maybe there is merit in this?

It’s like a way of sorting people, which is what people like to do with lots of stuff funnily. We sort our clothes, we sort our routines… it only follows that we sort ourselves.

I see it as a response to the natural chaos that is life. The tendency for things to migrate to chaos after being ordered creates the need for constant work.

This is a beautiful thing because it is just the way the world works. A eternal dance between order and chaos with us, egotistical humans, trying to “fix” the chaos.

Assigning labels is one way we try to fix it. To make one less thing unknown.

The thing is, labels are just an illusion. We only need to be defined by them as much as we want to. As much as it makes us feel safe and seen. To allow us to form little tribes.

To fast track meeting people like us because otherwise it may result in pain or rejection.

I see introversion and extroversion simply as a continuum, always changing subject to our experiences.

Genetics come into it too but mostly a child that is quiet and is neglected by their peers and parents will develop introverted behaviour as a response. Just like a child that is loud and on the receiving end of lots of attention from their peers and parents will develop extroverted behaviours.

I don’t think it’s a trap.

It’s just a way that people identify themselves so that they can find other people like them.

I’d like to mention - great read, thanks for writing this post, I’ll be on the lookout for more from you.

Keep writing, keep growing! 🙏

Expand full comment
krissy's avatar

Wow, this is an incredibly insightful comment. Thank you so much for not only reading the post but also for capturing the complex nuances of the human experience so beautifully! I completely agree—‘trap’ may be a bit strong. Labels can be both helpful and limiting, depending on how we use them.

Expand full comment
Peculiar Reverie's avatar

These words are like cotton candys… Thank you!

Expand full comment
krissy's avatar

Omg, cotton candy hahaha I love it! Thank you so much for reading 🥹

Expand full comment
Absurd Love & Other Disasters's avatar

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think of myself as an outgoing introvert... Or maybe an extrovert with reclusive tendencies. Can that be a thing? 🤔

Expand full comment
krissy's avatar

Thank you for taking the time to read ❣️ An extrovert with reclusive tendencies is absolutely a thing!

Expand full comment
Pomegranate's avatar

I’m an introvert but I like how it helps me write

https://open.substack.com/pub/pomegranateatmidnight

Expand full comment