Labels can shape our perception and our subjective experience of objective realities.
Alfred Korzybski, a Polish-American thinker, once illustrated this concept with nothing more than a packet of biscuits.
Korzybski handed out the biscuits to students in the front row during a lecture. A kind and thoughtful gift, and an enjoyable snack. The students scoffed them down until he tore off the plain wrapping to reveal the original packaging underneath. He’d just given them dog cookies.
The immediate response from the students was one of revulsion, despite their prior enjoyment. People wretched and ran for the bathrooms. The tasty treat was now revolting and nauseating. Korzybski said:
“I have just demonstrated that people don’t just eat food, but also words. And that the taste of the former is often outdone by the taste of the latter.”
It’s a striking demonstration of how our perceptions are moulded by the words and meanings we ascribe to our experiences.
You may have heard about the time renowned violinist Joshua Bell played incognito in a Washington D.C. metro station.
Dressed in jeans and a baseball cap, Bell, whose concerts typically sell out grand concert halls, played some of the most intricate pieces ever written on a violin worth millions.
Yet, in the metro, he was largely ignored, with few stopping to listen, and even fewer recognising the beauty of his performance. The context had changed the perception of his music.
This isn't just about the food we eat, or the music we hear; it permeates every facet of our lives. The narratives we've internalised can control our responses, emotions, and limitations more frequently than the inherent nature of things.
In the infamous "Blind Men and the Elephant" parable, each man, touching a different part of the elephant, is convinced he understands the whole. Like them, we're all limited by the narrowness of our individual perceptions.
But what happens when we challenge these narratives, look beyond the labels, and see things as they are, not as we're told they should be?
Take, for example, the narrative of failure. Society often paints failure with broad, negative strokes. Yet, many successful entrepreneurs and artists view failure as a necessary step towards success, a valuable learning experience.
It's a classic case of two groups seeing the same elephant but describing it in vastly different terms.
Or consider the "Imposter Syndrome" many of us face in professional settings. This feeling isn't a reflection of our actual abilities but a narrative we've internalised, one that tells us we're not good enough despite evidence to the contrary.
So, how do we move beyond the taste of words to the reality of things? It starts with awareness.
Challenge the narratives that hold you back. Ask yourself, are these feelings rooted in reality, or are they just the bitter taste of bad framing?
Embrace a mindset of curiosity and openness. Look to understand different perspectives, to touch all parts of the elephant before drawing conclusions.
And most importantly, craft your own narratives. Tell your story in a way that empowers you, that acknowledges your strengths and your potential for growth.
Now don’t go out and dig into a pack of scooby snacks on my account. Just remember that the labels others ascribe to things shouldn’t define what you enjoy or find value in. We all have our dog biscuits.
