In our media driven, digital, high speed, high def, consumer-centric culture, the line between our authentic self and the image we portray, our personal branding, is fuzzy at best. Where does one start and the other end? Who am I really? How could I ever know and does it really matter?
Think about it for a moment, from all sides we are pressed into the mold the culture mandates for us. In no other age has this been so prevalent, so in your face. The media elite hire personal image makers, stylists and consultants just to determine how they might be best accepted by the culture at large that somehow thinks they will find meaning in their connection with these stars. Personal coaches are in vogue and many will help to create a personal brand. (Don’t get me wrong here, I have nothing against personal coaches, at least those that focus on personal growth and development).
People have become experts at trying to be something they are not, looking, acting, being a particular way in order to personally advance, to convince others they should be liked, admired or followed. A great example of this is found in the modern music world as we look at pop stars, rock stars, and rap music artists, many of whom have conceded in private that their public persona is really just an image, a created brand, something that is separate from and not indicative of their true self. It is this confusion that has led to the demise of many. Those that understand this subtlety survive.
If you’re not impressed by the allure of Hollywood, when was the last time a commercial caught your eye? New Nike shoes endorsed by Michael Jordan, a Rolex watch worn by Phil or a new car that Tiger would drive. Just name the industry, autos, beer, computers, phones, sun-glasses, jewelry, clothing; they all seek to drive us to a place where we have to have their product, just to complete our image. Somehow if we drive that particular brand of car and wear this watch, we’ll feel better about ourselves and come across as more polished, more interesting. They seek to convince us that fulfillment, the good life can be found in these things.
Our digital age adds a new wrinkle as we create identities for ourselves through things like e-mail, internet networking, photo sharing, chat, text, etc. We can easily appear to be anything or anyone we want to be.
So where does one go to find authenticity, to get past the many societal layers and discover our true self? There are obviously no easy pat answers here. Morley points out the need for quiet, for retreat; “Authenticity is that which is genuine, true and real. It takes time and effort to find the authentic. Authenticity is found in deep pools where rivers meander slowly along.”
In our Halftime session this week, we’ll talk some about a Donald Miller sermon on “Story.” Miller, the author of the bestseller, Blue Like Jazz, suggests that we need to work on living better stories. He points out that we often fight God for control over our lives and argues that we’d have better lives, better stories if we regularly work toward allowing God, the author of our lives, to control the pen, allowing Him to bring our lives in line with His greater story.
Finally, Miller suggests that we carve out some time at the beginning of each year to write out some ideas for the year. He suggests that we consider what sort of person we’ve been and seek to make positive changes. Then, let’s look at what we want to do. What do we want our story to be about this year? In what areas can we make a difference? As we ask these questions, we want to find a story that utilizes our gifting and makes us come alive as participants in His bigger story, participants and active members of the Kingdom of God.
Jim Howe