Identity Beyond the Narrative

Distractions from priorities are distractions from making meaningful choices. Many are consumed by attempts to manage the world’s copious content, seeking affirmation via popular media, which presents a dilemma: How common is the admission or even the consideration that thoughts and actions are generally shaped by other sources apart from our own volition?

Media outlets thrive on an unwitting public that is generally compliant with and motivated by persistent suggestions or directives more than personal efforts toward autonomous, critical thinking. This exploited tendency is actually an untrained survival mechanism for efficiently gaining knowledge from various sources rather than seeking information in isolation. Collaboration is overwhelmed by excessive media consumption as primal indulgences are directly targeted by the media and advertisers. A conditioned, unproductive audience is the primary motivation and direct consequence of profit-driven media usurping the role of collaborator, ironically leading audiences down a path of indulgent isolation while the original intent was to consume media. So, how does one avoid falling prey to personal vices and the ambitions of those seeking to exploit them?

Active Engagement

As a standard practice, my clients are trained to define target behavior for increase or reduction in specific, measurable terms. If we are going to change course from identifying as a passive consumer to becoming a productive contributor, then we’ll have to change our habits of consumption. It is neither advisable nor practical to eliminate consumption altogether—even leisurely sorts—due to the simple and obvious fact that we are destined to do so. Consumption is necessary for life. The issue is whether we’re aware of what and how we are consuming.

An immediate change with maximal payoff is actively engaging the content. Become engrossed with the underlying motives of the media source. Does the content contribute to benefit or detriment? Does the content motivate or dissuade an improved quality of life? Does the media source thrive on action or inaction? It is imperative to demonstrate ownership of personal thoughts and actions, but the influence and provocations of others are obviously real (and for which they are responsible), which underscores why we must engage one another to provide checks and balances on those who might exploit our untrained tendencies.

Be Competitive

The world is competitive and many take it seriously, quickly becoming objects of esteem or envy. Nevertheless, failing to distinguish success from greed is a pitfall for individuals relegated to lives of mere consumption. This lack of sophistication is actually a foothold for exploitation. Those more ambitious and not necessarily restrained by ethics will capitalize on this confusion.

If I do not take responsibility for my responses to others’ actions toward me (whether an advertiser or friend), then I have conceded by default total control over the interaction. I then must ask: What makes the other party more capable of managing my behavior? If I deem the other party responsible for my behavior, then my judgment is invariably skewed to their praise or blame, aggregating their influence over me. Dependence on that party is therefore easily conditioned if positive consequences associated with their influence are initially established to a high degree. They can then slowly thin the amount of positive outcomes, eventually leveraging the relationship highly in their favor with little notice on your part if done so skillfully.

It is understandable why poor outcomes are inevitable and why thoughts and feelings associated with loss of control result from perceivably unmanageable circumstances. If our behavior does not reflect the plain reality of our endowed control, then others will seize it as humanity's insatiable appetite for security persists. This cannot be eliminated and will continue to concentrate with those realizing it. Some are simply more motivated than others and sometimes are less concerned with your welfare than yourself. Therefore, no better time exists than the present to make choices according to your maximal ability and potential to utilize resources (regardless of the amount) for increasing personal and public benefit. Malicious exploitation of these realities is not the end all be all, but time, energy, and effort must be spent as patience in expecting outcomes and diligence in identifying the steps toward progress are realized.