According to Eccleston & Crombez (1999), human beings are biologically attention-craving, and their pain demands attention. This has amplified to the point where appearances have taken center stage in today’s digital world, overshadowing the substance behind them. It’s evident in the way we form opinions and make judgments.
Take, for example, the TV live court trial that swayed public opinion in favor of Johnny Depp or the heartbreak we as kids experienced when we learned Shah Rukh and Kajol are not husband and wife. The iconic Rajesh Hamal, with his stylish and sophisticated persona, isn’t a “gau ko thito.” Or, even more striking, how we’re confronted with “dead” people’s Instagram profiles. Michael Jackson, for instance, posted a photo just a day ago!
This age is marked by the belief that a person’s worth or righteousness can be determined by the number of people they follow. Buying followers has become a common practice, revealing the absurdity of relying on these digital representations of character. We live in an era where curated images, not always but very often, take precedence over real substance. With smartphones in hand, we enter a stage for public approval, where recognition, likes, and followers are the ultimate goals. Hate and jealousy can be impersonated and delivered through a page; mass bullying is cathartic for many. Judging is free, my friends!
But the real question remains: Is it true information? Is your best friend in a perfect relationship? Is your favorite icon the best leader? Is your skin marble?
The depression derived from these disappointments is taking a toll on mental health worldwide. Since we discovered that attention-craving comes from within, are we losing our opportunities to discover ourselves? Is acceptance a spiritual way of life or an Instagrammable duty?
Quote of the Age: Genius is knowing how to display it.
Take the Kardashians, for example. They built an empire not just because of a beauty line but because of their innate ability to create an image that resonates with a vast audience. This image of perfection, success, and effortless glamor often masks the hard work and hustle behind their brand: the “art” part of the genius that it is.
This dynamic isn’t limited to the digital world; it plays out in real life as well. In workplaces, those who appear expensive and sophisticated are often assumed to be powerful and successful. The loudest voices are perceived as the smartest, while the quiet ones are assumed to be innocent or naïve. The better-looking individuals are often assumed to be the ones who are right.
The importance of image is so pervasive that we’ve come to associate companies and brands with their most visible figures: Apple is Steve Jobs, Tesla is Elon Musk, Facebook is Mark Zuckerberg, and Donald Trump is the president of America.
Perhaps behind every successful brand and name lies countless hours of hard work that often go unnoticed. The journey of becoming successful is slow, subtle, and not a 30-day viral challenge. It’s the persistence of those working behind the scenes, the thinkers, the builders, and the creators, that shape the world in meaningful ways, even if their efforts remain invisible.
Yet, in today’s digital age, the pressure for instant gratification is overwhelming. Fame and fortune are reduced to hashtags, likes, and viral content, making it easy to forget that true success takes time. We’re also seeing a shift in lifestyle choices, such as the new generation’s decreased alcohol consumption, potentially replaced by the ick of validation (Kraus et al., 2019).
So, why do we prioritize appearance over substance? Perhaps it’s easier to project an image than to grapple with the complexities of becoming who we truly are. It’s simpler to curate an identity than to cultivate one from within. In a world of constant comparison, where everyone seems to be rising, we feel the pressure to keep up, to be part of the spectacle. Yet, in this pursuit, we must not lose sight of what truly matters: the quiet evolution that happens when the cameras are off, when the audience has left, and when we stand alone as our truest selves.
The tension between appearance and substance, between performance and becoming, has become a dilemma of our age. The temptation to seek external validation is strong enough to overshadow the deeper work of self-growth.
Ultimately, it’s not about whether the pursuit of image is inherently wrong but whether we’ve allowed it to eclipse the pursuit of depth. Are we so captivated by the applause that we forget the craft of the quiet, unseen artist? Are we so focused on looking important that we neglect the deeper work of actually becoming important?
In this digital age, it’s easy to get lost in the rush for recognition and chase after what’s visible rather than meaningful. As the curtain falls on today’s performance, we must ask ourselves: In our desire to look more, have we forgotten what it truly means to be more?
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