Ahh…the good ol’ days. Times were simpler, people were kinder…days when social media wasn’t such an all-consuming part of our lives.
Well, as much as we’d like to believe “things were better way back when,” the truth is, people have always been the same—just people. All of the ways movie stars obsess about wanting their name everywhere—even to the point of putting it on a star on the sidewalk of a dirty street in Hollywood? Yeah, that obsession has been done as far back as you can go. And the dictators who put their image everywhere? Yes, that’s been around since time began.
When ancient civilizations are dug up, what we find are coins with the image or name of a leader. When we unearth a pyramid or discover ancient caves, we find drawings and graffiti and images, self-likenesses, and people’s names. Perhaps it’s the artist’s image or the leader’s name.
What’s so new about all this today? Let’s take a look.
Selfitis – A New Pandemic?
Humanity’s love of optics coupled with today’s love of social media has led to the identification of a new “disease” that is almost a pandemic. If you haven’t been infected, you know someone who has. It isn’t the flu. Or even the common cold. It is…selfitis. Selfitis is the obsessive taking of selfies.
Selfitis isn’t a diagnosis that’s been added to the medical books. The term was coined because something needed to describe the condition of over-the-top selfie taking. And that habit, or obsession, is no joke. Selfitis is a growing concern that is being researched by psychologists and journalists alike. Dr. Janarthanan Balakrishnan and Dr. Mark D. Griffiths have identified the following psychological factors behind the spread of selfitis:
- The need to boost self-confidence
- Competitiveness to see who can get more likes (#winning)
- The need to get others to pay attention to you
- The desire to alter your mood and make yourself feel better
- The need to fit in with your social group
Get this: As a global community, we upload 1.8 billion digital images a day. So. Many. Selfies. Selfies can be a whole lot of fun. And who doesn’t love a good photobomb? But while they can be an important form of self-expression, selfies can also promote that anxiety-ridden “super you” mentality.
The filtered, photoshopped, and cropped versions of ourselves that we share via our edited selfies can be detrimental to our psychological well-being. Studies show a direct link between altered photos and narcissism, which seems like a pretty easy connection to make. Is there a more narcissistic word than selfie? Probably not.
The Notion of Narcissism
Most preteens today know the popular word narcissism, which means excessive self-absorption. Basically, it is used when people become the center of their own universe and are obsessed with themselves. The selfie is an example of narcissism at work. While taking a selfie, we are usually positioned forward in the frame, larger than life, and those we pose with (if we actually pose with other people) are diminished in the background. We “heart” us a whole lot.
Narcissism isn’t just an adolescent issue. It is a human condition that transcends age, race, gender, or financial status. Your average two-year-old has it on lock. We all like to think that the sun rises and sets…on us.
To become well-rounded, loving humans, we have to battle those natural self-centered tendencies. Battling our own self-centered nature is hard stuff, but it has to be done. A narcissistic lifestyle is ultimately destructive to us and the people we care about.
We can see narcissism at work in the news across the globe daily. The more status we have, the easier it is to succumb. Movie stars, recording artists, business moguls, celebrities, politicians, and professional athletes are especially susceptible to its pull. Heads of government have a hard time separating their influential jobs from their own self-importance. With that much power, it is easy for someone to think they are the most important person in the galaxy. And so, they run for president. Or leave the group to cut a solo album. Or launch a clothing line. Or change their name to an unpronounceable symbol. Who wants to listen to or wear that?
Now, there is a certain amount of confidence and trust-in-ability we all need to possess if we’re ever going to venture out and take on bigger and bigger things. But there is an important difference between confidence and conceit—between ability and arrogance. Just as there is an important distinction between following God and thinking we are God.
Obsessing about yourself—narcissism—can bring all your dreams to a grinding halt and cause you to self-destruct. It has a nasty way of doing that.
Optics and the Truth
We need to take optics back to its original meaning. During the times of Newton and Galileo, optics had to do with revealing reality. Today, we need the truth…not a distortion of what is real. We need clarity about the value of life and who we are to find out what our true purpose is.
When you anchor yourself in authenticity, you get to change your view of what really matters. Image is not everything. Not even close.
Your value isn’t measured by what you look like or how you are perceived. Your worth is, in reality, measured by the depth of your character and the desires of your heart.
Your honesty, with yourself and with the world, is what unleashes the hope that you are longing for. There is another way to live your life and look at the world. There is more for you than people-pleasing optics.
Optics crush the soul; authenticity frees the soul. Optics kill; authenticity brings life. Choosing between the two is not just a casual choice because it’s bedrock to who you are and what you will live for. The question is…which will you choose?
If you want to learn more about living a more authentic life, free from narcissism and the added weight of optics-driven social media, I encourage you to grab a copy of my upcoming book, Overliked: Finding Direction, Courage, and Meaningful Relationships in a Society Crippled by Social Media, where you’ll find ways to get beyond the optics to the freedom that authenticity brings. (And if you pre-order now, you can immediately download some pretty cool free bonus gifts.)
Until next time, draw close to Jesus and find the validation and peace that only He can give.
~ Pastor Rob
aka P-Ro