It seems like everyone is taking the express lane to land themselves on the top these days. Whether it’s being the next instagram sensation to just showing off what you have over everyone else, social media is a breeding ground for this kind of “one up-ing” behavior that’s plain annoying.
While social media creates a platform where people can showcase what they have which could land them a big opportunity, are we somehow sacrificing substance for the nonsense that we hear on a daily basis? After all, people like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton did get their ticket to fame through shall we say “home videos” of some kind.
Today, the amount of followers on social media also equates to power. Bloggers who yield high numbers of followers are given gifts, invitations to exclusive event and money for showcasing a designer’s product. The quality of writing in some cases is a second thought to the amount of potential reach they can get through their followers.
[You Might Also Like] Heart of Vancouver: The new age of sexting
The currency for power in relationships has always equated to two things: money and sex. Money allows for “security” while sex serves as a thermometer that reaffirms the temperature of your relationship. This may sound superficial because we like to think that relationships are built on romantic notions such as trust and love but both sex and money have been listed as the two most important aspects by partners and also the most common reasons why couples split.
In a recent documentary “Life is but a dream” staring Beyonce, she highlighted the crucial role of money and how it shapes our values.
“Women have to work much harder to make it in this world. It really pisses me off that women don’t get the same opportunities as men do, or money for that matter. Because lets face it, money gives men the power to run the show. It gives men the power to define our values and to define what’s sexy and what’s feminine and that’s bullshit. At the end of the day, it’s not about equal rights, it’s about how we think. We have to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves.”
[You Might Also Like] Heart of Vancouver: Is being open to cheating considered infedelity?
The queen B has spoken and while everyone is trying to get on their hands on some of that “power”, we may be so blind sighted by the goal ahead that we forget to reflect on the person we’ve become. Self-indulgence is healthy only in moderation before we become egomaniacs. Anyone who is successful will emphasize the importance of work ethic and the value of hard work.
It certainly takes more than daily selfies and looking great to really be someone of relevance. Power allows you to assert influence but is not mutually exclusive in inducing prolonged happiness. Keep in mind that there’s no elevator to success—you have to take the stairs.
[You Might Also Like] Heart of Vancouver: Younger men dating older women is on the rise
Amy Yew is a registered clinical counselor and relationship therapist. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to [email protected]. You can also tweet your thoughts on Twitter @AmyYew.
