As we grow older, we become more "intelligent," knowing what everything is and how everything works around us. Specifically, we learn more words and concepts that help describe everything around us. What if I told you that those very words and concepts you use every day are a major problem? Words can seem harmless, but they create illusions that cloud our vision, keeping us from seeing life as it truly is. Keep reading if you’re ready to wake up...
What are Words and Concepts?
Words and concepts are mental constructs—names, labels, and symbols we assign to everything we perceive in the world. At their best, they help us navigate life and communicate with others. But more often than not, they become obstacles, keeping us from seeing things as they truly are.
When you look at a tree and immediately say to yourself, “That’s a tree,” you are no longer seeing the tree. What you’re seeing is your concept of it. The label, “tree,” blocks you from the direct experience of the tree. In reality, a tree is far more complex than the word “tree” can ever capture. It’s a living, breathing organism—unique in every detail, from the shape of its branches to the way its leaves shimmer in the light. But as soon as we name it, we think we understand it, and we stop looking. We don't bother experiencing the moment of looking at the tree, and so miss out on the mystery, the beauty, and the reality that is right in front of us.
The Trap of Words and Concepts
Words can trap us in illusions when we cling to them, mistaking the label for the reality it represents. The great Krishnamurti put it so well when he said, "The day you teach the child the name of the bird, the child will never see that bird again." How true! The first time a child sees a fluffy, alive, moving object, and you say to him, “Sparrow,” the wonder is lost. Tomorrow, when the child sees another fluffy, moving object, he says, “Oh, sparrows. I’ve seen sparrows. I’m bored by sparrows.”
The child no longer sees the bird. He only sees the concept he’s attached to it. Whether it’s a sparrow, an eagle, or a parrot, the bird has become trapped in the child's mind under one label: sparrow. It no longer holds the same aliveness, the same uniqueness it once had. And this is exactly what we do throughout life. We label things—people, emotions, experiences—and then stop seeing them for what they truly are. Words and concepts take us further from reality, not closer. They put us to sleep, and we start living in a world of names and ideas, not in the real world at all.
Child bored of seeing just another "Sparrow"...
The Craziness of the Illusion
Living in this conceptual world can be not only limiting but downright absurd. There’s a story in Awareness by Anthony de Mello that shows just how ridiculous this can get:
A man born blind comes to me and asks, “What is this thing called green?” How does one describe the color green to someone who was born blind? One uses analogies. So I say, “The color green is something like soft music.” “Oh,” he says, “like soft music.” “Yes,” I say, “soothing and soft music.” So a second blind man comes to me and asks, “What is the color green?” I tell him it’s something like soft satin, very soft and soothing to the touch.
The next day, I notice that the two blind men are bashing each other over the head with bottles. One is saying, “It’s soft like music”; the other is saying, “It’s soft like satin.” And on it goes. Neither of them knows what they’re talking about, because if they did, they’d shut up.
It’s as bad as that. It’s even worse, because one day, say, you give sight to this blind man, and he’s sitting there in the garden and looking all around him, and you say to him, “Well, now you know what the color green is.” And he answers, “That’s true. I heard some of it this morning!”
This is the craziness of the illusion. Even when reality is right in front of us—clear, vivid, and undeniable—we still cling to our old ideas, concepts, and labels. We become so attached, to the stage that we take pride in them, writing theses and passionately arguing that green is like music. We defend these illusions, fight to protect them, and debate endlessly... rather than just experiencing what green is.
"Asleep" in the middle of a "Green" forest...
The Wonder of Experiencing an Event with No Concepts, Words, and Labels
So, what happens when we let go of words and concepts? What is it like to experience life directly, without labels, without preconceived ideas, without trying to fit everything into neat little boxes?
It’s pure wonder.
When you drop the labels, the world comes alive in a way that is indescribable. It’s as if you are seeing things for the very first time. The colors are brighter, the sounds sharper, and everything seems more vibrant and immediate. You start to notice details you’ve never seen before—the intricate patterns in a leaf, the subtle changes in the light as the day progresses, the depth of emotion in another person’s eyes. You begin to feel more alive because you’re no longer living in a mental construct. You’re actually experiencing the real world.
Experiencing life without concepts or labels is not just about seeing things differently; it’s about being different. You start to react less and observe more. You start to become more aware. You start to lead your health, relationships, and business in a different way... you become a Conscious Leader.
Conclusion
Words and concepts are not the enemy. They are tools, and like any tool, they can be useful when used wisely. But when we cling to them—when we mistake the menu for the stake—we fall asleep. We live in a world of labels and ideas, not in the real world. It's crucial to be aware of the words we cling to and to make a conscious effort to see the world without these filters, in all its richness and mystery.
This is the wonder of waking up. Beyond the words and concepts lies a reality that is far more beautiful, far more vibrant, and far more alive than anything we could ever imagine. All we have to do is let go of the labels, open our eyes, and experience it.
Your thoughts?
I felt so challenged by this post yesterday, and yet I think this may be one of the most powerful posts I've ever read. I couldn't stop thinking about it.
So in my acting class we study behaviour. We're trained not to say "you're angry" but "your hands are in a fist", like that. And what I hear here is to drop ALL labels because "as soon as we name it, we think we understand it, and we stop looking; we don't bother experiencing the moment" So my inner child showed up and said no! Thank goodness for the comments section.
I did my best to practice this all day, and you know what happened? I was in the low…
I feel like we use words and labels to process and make sense of, the world around us, intellectually. But when we stop trying to define everything we get to perceive the world and everything in it through all of our senses. That depth we then get to “see” or experience always has me in awe and has me zoom out of my trivial problems and gives me a sense of being a part of something much much bigger. It always has me feel like the possibilities are endless. With people I’m noticing I’m hearing far less of what people who like their own voice are saying, and far more from those that say less. Almost seeing through people’s choice…
Be very mindful of labels and concepts, since they more often lead to obstructing experience or wonderment of people, places and situations.
Wow! It’s crazy how asleep we are
Everything loses its magic and richness when we label it, just be concious every time we look at something with the filter our mind puts and wake up, and start to really see and feel everything how it really is
I love the idea that by naming something, we stop truly seeing it. It resonates with how, in leadership and life, we can get stuck in mental constructs and stop experiencing situations and people as they are. Letting go of these labels allows us to reconnect with reality in a deeper way. It’s about moving beyond preconceived ideas and truly being present, which not only enriches our experience but also sharpens our awareness as leaders