Categories can prevent you from finding what you love or help you find what you need. If you love Mexican food, choosing a Mexican restaurant increases the chance of a good experience. On the other hand, if you don’t like a certain genre of music or books, you might miss out on something great because of the way it’s categorized.

I recently discovered the perils of categories. A guitarist that I follow plays in a couple of different bands. I resisted listening to one of the bands because some of their music is labeled Country (not really my thing). When I decided to give them a chance, it became one of my favorite new finds. (If you want to check it out, the album is The Valley by Noah Guthrie.)

What are you missing out on by avoiding certain categories?