Monkey Me

Jesse Rice, author of The Church of Facebook, recently stated in his blog, "I can never live up to the expectations of my imaginary audience." In a nutshell he discussed how our status updates, photo posts, etc. are posted with the hopes of making some type of impression on our "friends" to have them see us in a certain light. I myself have discussed this in a past postings (see Social Medium or Unlike Cynicism), nor am I dogging Facebook and its users, but this "imaginary audience" idea struck me.

I guess we are always in some sort of performance. A performance that plays out every day in what we wear, how good a job we do, or how many people like us. Facebook just provides us another stage. A stage that's easier to put a mask on and act out.

But why act.

Everyday I let my ego or insecurities get the better of me. I can cling to a "Do they like what I did?", "Do they think I was stupid?", "Do they think that other person is better?".

That darn audience of colleagues, neighbors, strangers, family, or "friends". Its always there. Beckoning for my performance. And there I am like a monkey with a little cap and tin cup. Hopping around. "Like me!", "Like me!". And I wanna make sure it—my performance...well, me—is acceptable.

Perhaps this is some sort of Freudian result of my upbringing. Perhaps not.

But why do we need the approval of an audience anyway? Is it the rush from their applause and approval? I believe that deep down it is a perspective, a choice, a vacancy. That I can try to overcome myself through positive-thinking, addiction, business, success, etc. Or I must ask God to fill daily—even more often. And a lot of days I muddle through without embracing that understanding. And He will let me sit with my tin cup and jump and jump. He will put people and occurrences in my life as if to say "Hey Monkey, remember me? It ain't about you and your little cup and hat." Thank goodness...