Reality Bites

I have a confession to make. I’m utterly addicted to reality shows.

We all know they really aren’t reality at all and they arescripted reality at it’s best, But nevertheless, I still continue to tune-in to watch them – even though they go against the grain of everything I believe deep in my core.

I was baffled as to why I continue to tune-in to these various shows, until I finally got it. I realized that I’m fascinated by the human psychology of it all. I don’t care about the content of the shows but about the people behind thecharacters they’ve been type-cast in playing.

And one of the best reality shows that speaks to the topic of worth is: The Bachelor.

If you’re not familiar with it, that’s okay, the concept is very simple. Excuse my bluntness but the way I see it is: Women compete for a man’s attention to give them a stamp of approval (a.ka. a red rose) to provide the evidence they need that they are either good enough or they aren’t.

Ugh.

Now, I’m not coming at this from a place of judgment, I’m coming at this from a place of experience. I could tell you stories of all the times I’ve looked to a man to make me feel worthy or good enough. And before I knew my own truth and my own worth, I made a habit out of looking to outside sources (men, jobs, material possessions, etc.) to make me feel whole.

In a nutshell, I was looking for my Worth in all the wrong places.

So when I say Ugh it’s more a collective sigh for this show that’s on national t.v. doing a great job at reinforcing to women that:

  • they need to compete with each other and try to sabotage each other rather than supporting their sisters in a loving way
  • they need to go out and get love instead of looking for it inside
  • they need physical evidence to show they are worthy by hoping and praying that a rose given to them from some guy they don’t even know yet will make them feel good enough and worthy

One girl on the show from the initial elimination from 25 to 15 was being interviewed after and I quote:It’s hard to see that I’m so great when men that I’ve tried to start lives with always end up saying you’re just not great enough.

Major UGH.

As I witnessed this woman cry her brains out on t.v., I wished I could be the one interviewing her at the end because knowing what I know now based on all my trials and tribulations, and learning’s about True Worth, I’d do things a whole lot differently.

I would have the eliminated gals walk down a beautiful red carpet where there brought into a tent that was warm and inviting and surrounded by other supportive women. They would come up to a podium where I’d greet her with a big hug and say:You won, congratulations! You’re one of the lucky ones.

Then, I would give her an emblem that would say:Your broken heart is the gateway to your worth. This is the last time you’ll let anyone or anything define who you think you are. You’re ready, it’s time to discover and Claim Your Worth!

Which ending would you rather watch?

Learn more about Brenda Stanton at: http://www.brendastanton.com/