I was in high school when MTV introduced their reality television hit, “Real World: New York”. Twenty-nine seasons later, the “Real World” franchise is strong and vibrant!
The success of shows like the “Real World”, have led to the introduction of a number of other reality television shows that shroud themselves in this elusive term, real.
Now we have shows like, “The Real Chance of Love“, “The Real Wedding Crashers“, “The Real Gilligan’s Island“, and “The Real Housewives“.
Wait…Gilligan’s Island wasn’t real, was it?
…and aren’t all housewives real?
Seriously, where is government regulation when you need it? It seems we need a consistent standard of what real, really means.
Year after year, we are slowly being swallowed by an onslaught of seductive entertainment using the guise of real to lure us in.
It’s funny how many of us will ridicule and judge someone who escapes their reality by abusing alcohol or using illicit drugs. Yet, we’re guilty of exactly the same thing, it’s just our drug of choice requires a couch, cable box and remote control.
Since when did the idea of good living become watching other people’s reality television shows, rather than living a life worthy of being cast for a show?
My questions for reflection this week are:
- Are you truly in touch with YOUR reality?
- What would change if you had your own reality television show?
Isn’t is ironic that on most reality shows, you never see the cast spending their evenings on the couch watching someone else’s scripted reality?
You may find the following statistics alarming:
- Americans spend 1/3 of their free time watching television and of that (time spent watching television) 67% are reality shows.
- Reality television episodes have increased to 57% of all television shows that can be found on your screens.
That’s a lot of TV!
More troubling than that, we’re not watching real TV.
We’re watching scripted and fake accounts of a producer’s ideal on what life should or shouldn’t be. This makes it easy to believe that anyone that watches a lot of reality television could struggle with insecurities.
“The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” ~ Steve Furtick
Life is a precious, personal gift! Why would you spend your moments encapsulated in some else’s story? Create your own vibrant and fascinating reality. Spend time investigating and understanding your own story.
“Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love…” ~ Bradley Whitford
Today, start living your life, like there’s a camera in the room. Be your own icon. Be your one star. Be your own brand.
Make your life and your purpose the priority, and maybe one day millions will be watching!
Embrace your reality and stay inspired, it’s a lifestyle choice!
The ratings on reality shows prove that we are more interested other people’s business than we are our own!