See the Person, Not the Label
Listening beyond judgement in a city full of stories
Dear friends,
There’s a force that shuts doors before we’ve even knocked.
That dulls the light in someone’s eyes before they’ve had the chance to speak.
That tells us, quietly but firmly, they’re not like us.
It’s called stigma. And it lives in all of us.
It shows up as labels. Assumptions. Quick conclusions.
It shows up in the words we use, the people we avoid, and the stories we never ask to hear.
But stigma doesn’t survive contact with real connection.
Not when we slow down. Not when we listen. Not when we’re willing to see the whole person.
What if we looked again?
What if the lad drinking at 10 a.m. isn’t a stereotype, but someone carrying grief no one’s made space for?
What if the neighbour who always cancels isn’t unreliable, but overwhelmed every time they try to leave the house?
What if the woman you find difficult has spent years being dismissed, and this is how she tries to hold her ground?
What if the politician you’ve written off still carries the weight of hopes they haven’t yet given up on?
What if the quiet man at the counter is trying to build a life between two worlds, and feels like he belongs in neither?
What if the boy on the corner is just trying to stay safe in a world that’s already written his story for him?
What if the only real difference between their path and our own is how many people took the time to listen?
What we believe
In Love Sheffield, we believe every person is more than the label they’ve been given.
We believe that behaviour makes sense when you know the story.
We believe that connection begins not with agreement, but with curiosity.
And we believe Sheffield can be a city where judgement softens, and people feel seen.
A small act of defiance
Next time you hear a label - junkie, scrounger, snowflake, foreigner, waster, alcoholic, criminal - pause.
Then ask yourself:
What if there’s more to this person than I’ve been told?
What if their story makes sense when I take the time to hear it?
What if they still have something vital to offer?
Ask. Listen. Make space. That’s how change begins.
An invitation
In the coming weeks, I’ll be continuing my road trip through Sheffield’s communities, fanning the flames of Project Ignite, and listening at the edges where change begins.
I’ll be sharing stories from those challenging the quiet cruelty in our systems, and lighting up new paths with courage and care.
Most of all, I’ll be looking for ways to make space — space for your gifts, born of kindness, compassion and creativity, to be seen, welcomed, and woven into the future we’re building together.
Because this city doesn’t need heroes. It needs all of us.
With warmth and hope,
Brian Mosley
Founder, Love Sheffield & Project Ignite
Author of "Uniting Hearts, Igniting Change"
Agree wholeheartedly. Am someone not good with Boundaries & too much empathy for others, have learned that to get involved/ help/ support someone in addiction can be draining/exhausting when you're doing it as a friend. Was manipulated, my soft side exploited etc......i tried to only see the person, not the crack/heroin etc. Long-term drug use can make people selfish & lying becomes easy, they're surviving. Make sure you don't become a victim too. We have to be discerning & know ourselves, our motivations for befriending certain people. Love what you've written Brian, just thought i'd share my experience.