A reader is having trouble with the term “labels”.

“I think I’m still struggling with the terminology — I feel like labels have a certain specific meaning in psychology (you attach yourself to labels that you give to yourself and other people, like “I’m a loser” or “she’s a downer”.)

Is there another term that could be coined for this that might avoid that association?”

There are good and bad labels. “I’m a loser” is a bad label. The labels I have been talking about are good labels. If “good labels” still feels wrong, perhaps we could find another term for labels like:

It sounds like you love to do that.

It seems like you enjoy making a difference in that way.

It feels like that made a big difference for you.

There are more examples here: https://joshmudge.com/label-explanation-labels-and-emotions/

Josh