The Benefit of the Doubt

Have you ever been a victim of misconceptions, about being misjudged solely for your actions? Why do people tend to label others based only on what they see or what reputation this person’s family has? Every day, how many labels do people use without thinking? Do you realize we also label ourselves literally? “I am an outgoing, happy, cheerful person” I am shy and don’t know how to speak to others.”  How many times have you said “foul”? Do you stop and think about it for a minute? That you limit the people you label in expressing themselves just as you are limiting yourself to what others think about you? That you are possibly stopping them from living their purpose? Can we not apply first the art of giving the benefit of the doubt? This paper aims to shed light on the previously asked questions and a burning issue on when is it wise to give the benefit of the doubt and when is it not? In relation to my views, this paper also aims to discuss briefly on the views of  the famous philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard ,who is generally considered to be the Father of Existentialism, who proposed that each individual—not society or religion—is solely responsible for giving meaning to life and living it passionately and sincerely ("authentically"). With this, it is my aim to open up our hearts and minds about the dangers and disastrous effects of indiscriminate stereotyping or labelling and not giving the benefit of the doubt.

I have always been “a well behaved girl”.   As a result I tend to live up to their image of me because I’m scared to bring shame to my family—and disappoint the people who believe in me. So I grew up and lived my life “the way they perceived me”; but one reaches the point of getting tired living with a perceived image of being the well behaved girl all the time. After all, I am just one of those normal teenagers who can get naughty once in awhile, who can get scared disobeying edicts for my own doing; antics that characterize a normal teenager...