For once the thought process came and STAYED so that I could blog...wahoo! So, I started thinking about who is influential in your life, if you are more influential than you know, and than popularity zinged in. Therefore, I have taken the task to look up each word and see if you can have one without the other.
Popular: widely liked, or appreciated, sought after for company by others; of or representing or carried on by the people at large.
Influence: a power indirectly influencing people or an event, to have power over, to cause a change in the character, action or thought of.
Selfish: concerned only or primarily with onself without regard for others, a person who cares for no one.
(just for fun) Self-Esteem: satisfaction with oneself.
Alright, so we can see that the words do not relate to each other, each having a vastly different meaning. Therefore, I can only assume that it is lack of understanding, the slang of our current culture that ropes these words together. It could be memories of youth, current associations or many different items that affect this.
In High School, there were always the "popular" kids. To those of us who were not popular, they appeared to have great influence on those around them. I was one of those that was lucky enough to be "passing" friends with the majority of the populars. Did they influence my choices? My views? My behavior? No actually they didn't. However, I do declare that I am a stubborn cuss and would at that age, go against a current trend just to do it. With this in mind I am apt to believe that you could also pull into this conversation by myself, the words "Leader's and Follower's". At one time of life or another I have been taught that you will either lead or follow; it simply depends on the situation and your comfort level with it.
I suppose that my "un"comfort level with the word "influential" is what has brought this thought to task. I have been told that I am influential.....hmmm....that turns my mind to wonder of why and what must those that follow be thinking? =] (sorry - just a joke) There are times in my life that yes, I can look back and see that I took upon myself the role of leader....but it also comes to my mind of: when I led was I a good leader? were people upset by me? did I come on too strong? Yes, I realize that many leaders have the same thought patterns running their minds, atleast I hope they do - otherwise I would have to add the word "selfish" back into my mix.
My therapist several years ago thought my ideals and idea's of things backwards. I have had a few friends mention that as well. It is possible I suppose that along the road of life, our definitions of ourselves are plodded out by those around us. Not only in the "labels" that others give to us but in how we understand and interpret what has been said. I shy away from the word "influential" as much as I do "popular" or "selfish"....they seem selfish words to me. If I admit that I could be any of those words do I become haughty or selfish?
My goal in this life at this time isn't simple; for my goal is to examine they why's and what not's or these words and learn to apply them "correctly" towards myself or anyone else. Therefore leaving off any connection with words that do not help but simply hinder one's self esteem.
1 comment:
Influential doesn't necessarily mean that you are a leader. To me, it makes me think of the saying "To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world." To that one person, you are influential - you make a difference, and in so doing, you change their world. Therefore, you don't need to be in a "leadership" kind of position or relationship to be influential to the people that are around you.
I suppose I don't really know the context that this post came from. These are just some of my thoughts on the word 'influential.' To me, it doesn't have a negative connotation at all. Nor does it make me think of popularity. It makes me think of trust. It makes me think of having that person that makes a difference to you or being that person for someone else. That is what influential is to me. You can change someone else's world. Not by vice, not for selfish reasons, but just by virtue of being a good person.
I suppose that perhaps there is more than one kind of influence. Because it is true that not all influence is edifying and uplifting. And since I can't think of where I want to go with that thought, I guess I can stop writing this comment now. Yay for rambling. Not all of this post is applicable. Sorry bout that. I suppose I should be going now. Have a wonderful evening.
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