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.
