YOU Control the “Narrative”

Narrative is defined as “a story that is told or written; something that is narrated; the representation in art of an event or story;” http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narrative

You can’t prevent what is said about you. BUT…you can influence HOW it is revealed.

The natural inclination is to “not tell anyone” or “keep it private.” Sometimes, this works. Oftentimes, it doesn’t.

“When people don’t know what’s going on in your life, they SPECULATE. When they think they know, they FABRICATE. And when they do know, they just HATE.”

If you put it out there first…you have rendered the “haters” powerless.

I am reminded of the phrase: “Let the air out of the balloon.” If you let the air out yourself, it doesn’t get to inflate and rise.

However, in a day of Social Media, instant access and news “going viral,” anything good or bad can be exposed very quickly.

Cases in Point:

#1 - During the 2015 Christmas Holiday, former boxer Mike Tyson took a big fall off of his daughter’s hover-board. Instead of waiting for the media to “Put its spin on it” and reveal it, he immediately posted a video of the incident on Instagram, laughing at his own mishap. Further shaming averted…

#2 - Although I got diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS in April 2012, I didn’t talk about it publicly until November 2013. I just needed time to “wrap my own mind around it.” I was too vulnerable to handle the questions, the pity, the speculations and the unsolicited advice.

I finally realized that it was consuming me. So I decided to “go public” about it on Facebook in a game called “Things You May Not Know About Me.” I now realize that by my controlling how I wanted to talk about it, it put the power back in my hands.

#3 - I am very active on Social Media. However, it does not intimidate me. I CONTROL THE NARRATIVE.” I deliberately post what I WANT everyone to know. I minimize gossip or speculation by either being the one to discuss my issues or allowing silence to be my answer.

A USA TODAY article by Michael Wolff titled “The Importance of ‘Controlling the Narrative’” explains:

Among the most prevalent and up-to-date phrases in business, politics and savvy American life is "controlling the narrative."

That is, telling it YOUR WAY, before someone else gets to tell it — and possibly tell it better — their way. And getting the public to relate to you on a more intimate level: In a social-media world, being impersonal is being out of it.

Last week, (December 2013) in a breakthrough example of this new communications form, Bill de Blasio, New York's mayor-elect, released a video of his daughter explaining how and why she became a drug addict, and how sorry she was about it. 

This was an example of "getting out ahead of the story" (another term in the art of modern communication), as well as controlling it. The de Blasio camp both owned up to this potentially negative revelation and, with their video treatment, owned it. So, a big win for controlling the narrative. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2013/12/29/mayor-elect-de-blasio-controls-his-daughters-story/4220773/

The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 9:11-12 (NIV):

11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

Romans 16:17 (NIV):

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

James 1:19 (NIV): Listening and Doing

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Memorable Quotes:

"The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words." - Philip K. Dick

 “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there's still going to be somebody who hates peaches.”  - Dita Von Teese

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt

"Don’t worry about what I'm doing. Worry about why you're worried about what I'm doing."

 “Live your life in such a way that if someone spoke badly of you, no one would believe it.”

We all must learn to “be kind” to our own selves. Sometimes, issues can be minimized by you “controlling the narrative.”  Other times, silence can eliminate issues as well. Wisdom and Trust in God will help you know the difference.