Shininess

Just out of sheer boredom last week, I was going through my messenger conversations from many, many years ago. It’s cool but scary to think that these messenger programs store everything that is said between people, especially when you consider that there are entire relationships that exist only within the messenger world.

Anyway, I’m fairly sure the person I was talking to wouldn’t mind if I published his words – a very insightful view on “shininess”:

People are attracted to shiny things. These shiny things do not necessarily have any particular value, but the assumption is subconsciously (and often incorrectly) made that something that is shiny is also valuable.

Think of sugar as an analogue… Before we refined sugar and added it to everything, something sweet tasting was something that would give you energy and nutrients. The association was made between sweetness and good food.

But we know that things that are sweet nowadays are not necessarily good in terms of nutrition or substance.

Similarly, people are attracted to shiny things because they may have been (in the past) things which were that substantial that they could afford to be shiny. But we know now that shiny things do not necessarily have any substance.

Because people are attracted to shiny things, it is actually necessary to advertise your worth by being shiny to a degree. And that also, you in particular have a lot to be shiny about.

So what you need to do is two things:

1. Understand and become comfortable with just how amazingly hot, talented, friendly, etc, etc. you are. In realistic terms.

2. Understand and become comfortable with the idea that you are allowed to advertise your wares. You will not offend anyone who understands your worth. In fact, it is unlikely that you will offend anyone at all.

Sometimes a lecture from a good friend is all it takes to make everything better.