Less Self, More Promotion.
A bit of sarcasm rings from the wall of Face as I read comment after comment indicating relevance. I am the most guilty, for I do not even produce organic material. Instead, I regurgitate partially digested pieces of information I have gathered from everything from C.S. Lewis, to the Bible, all the way to the new 2 Chains song. I am a fellow of many hats for I had learned to adapt early on in life.
My authentic self now, a softer, milder, less-demanding version, for I no longer rely on your attention to complete me, combats the inauthentic or prideful self, daily, hourly in fact. Self-Promotion is not my strong point, however when a book is published and there were a lot of people involved in it's development, I owe it not only to me and the numerous hours of work and sacrifice, but to the researchers who contributed their time in both phone and email responses, a spouse and daughter whom received a more tired version of their man, the publisher who found the work and decided to go through with the project, all those who have read, supported, prayed, deserve the promotion as well.
With that, the promotion is not for self, but for a message. A message that we are all going to be OK, but that we first have to be a little un-OK. Yes, we must read the memoir of a boy-man who took the prideful pill, made the poor, selfish decisions in life affecting others. We took his egocentric perspective of self and instead of condemning, looked from afar, and saw some of ourselves in his actions. I might have put the actions, thoughts, behaviors into words, however this did not, does not, make them any less relevant. "I did that so hopefully you wouldn't have to go through that," Jay-Z, Izzo (see some of my early inspiration seeping through?)
When reflecting on self, promotion of self, supporting other's causes, there is a little part of us that becomes invested in the material we support. Even if we are just liking and following others to get a follow or like back, we still invested in some way, the material that was presented. We either saw a certain portion of an image that intrigued, we read or saw a post we wish we were brave enough to do. We see some of ourselves, maybe the worst parts, in a post and like it as a way to validate us and that secret part. We are therapizing our behavior by viewing it externally and giving it that extra "like," to validate it.
When it comes to promoting self, we might show what we want or think others would favor. For me, I wrote and continue to divulge personal information for no other reason than I believe I was called to do so. It gives meaning to my own pain, helps me find purpose in the strife, and through years of relating to others, I understand that we all have similar thoughts and backgrounds more closely related than not. For this reason, I feel that talking, presenting, putting the vulnerable self out there can only breed safety in environment for others to do so.
Promotion doesn't have to be the competition I initially thought it was, you like mine or theirs, not both, but it can be a contribution to society as a whole. After all, society is online now and there is an ease in ability to reach a larger, more expansive society now more than ever. I see communication getting better, not worse, I see people feeling more comfort, not hate, I see people around the world giving a like or follow to a photo of some shirtless guy from Nebraska whom claims he is inadequate. These are very exciting times, and ones that I want to take advantage of, despite the selfish, look-at-me battle that weighs inside my mind.
What comes next, after the aftermath of the initial release. When a fragile self is left to deal with the post-release emotion of a shirtless selfie to promote a crudely written memoir for self-help purposes? What else is left but to cope, continue to grow, get stronger, learn, adapt, come out with an improved ability to do all of those things. For this pain, and then this inevitably adapted strength, I thank you Lord.
Amen.
For the book and reference point I am referring to, as well as to fulfill my self-promotion obligation, click HERE.
My authentic self now, a softer, milder, less-demanding version, for I no longer rely on your attention to complete me, combats the inauthentic or prideful self, daily, hourly in fact. Self-Promotion is not my strong point, however when a book is published and there were a lot of people involved in it's development, I owe it not only to me and the numerous hours of work and sacrifice, but to the researchers who contributed their time in both phone and email responses, a spouse and daughter whom received a more tired version of their man, the publisher who found the work and decided to go through with the project, all those who have read, supported, prayed, deserve the promotion as well.
With that, the promotion is not for self, but for a message. A message that we are all going to be OK, but that we first have to be a little un-OK. Yes, we must read the memoir of a boy-man who took the prideful pill, made the poor, selfish decisions in life affecting others. We took his egocentric perspective of self and instead of condemning, looked from afar, and saw some of ourselves in his actions. I might have put the actions, thoughts, behaviors into words, however this did not, does not, make them any less relevant. "I did that so hopefully you wouldn't have to go through that," Jay-Z, Izzo (see some of my early inspiration seeping through?)
When reflecting on self, promotion of self, supporting other's causes, there is a little part of us that becomes invested in the material we support. Even if we are just liking and following others to get a follow or like back, we still invested in some way, the material that was presented. We either saw a certain portion of an image that intrigued, we read or saw a post we wish we were brave enough to do. We see some of ourselves, maybe the worst parts, in a post and like it as a way to validate us and that secret part. We are therapizing our behavior by viewing it externally and giving it that extra "like," to validate it.When it comes to promoting self, we might show what we want or think others would favor. For me, I wrote and continue to divulge personal information for no other reason than I believe I was called to do so. It gives meaning to my own pain, helps me find purpose in the strife, and through years of relating to others, I understand that we all have similar thoughts and backgrounds more closely related than not. For this reason, I feel that talking, presenting, putting the vulnerable self out there can only breed safety in environment for others to do so.
Promotion doesn't have to be the competition I initially thought it was, you like mine or theirs, not both, but it can be a contribution to society as a whole. After all, society is online now and there is an ease in ability to reach a larger, more expansive society now more than ever. I see communication getting better, not worse, I see people feeling more comfort, not hate, I see people around the world giving a like or follow to a photo of some shirtless guy from Nebraska whom claims he is inadequate. These are very exciting times, and ones that I want to take advantage of, despite the selfish, look-at-me battle that weighs inside my mind.
What comes next, after the aftermath of the initial release. When a fragile self is left to deal with the post-release emotion of a shirtless selfie to promote a crudely written memoir for self-help purposes? What else is left but to cope, continue to grow, get stronger, learn, adapt, come out with an improved ability to do all of those things. For this pain, and then this inevitably adapted strength, I thank you Lord.
Amen.
For the book and reference point I am referring to, as well as to fulfill my self-promotion obligation, click HERE.
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| There it is, proof of the toil, heartache, love and loss. |
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