The pursuit of authenticity vs. the pursuit of attention
Philosophizing
By
on May 13, 2009
54 Responses
I've been thinking a lot lately about the pursuit of authenticity versus the pursuit of attention. The first feels very internal, like you really have to look with-in yourself with a lot of introspection and thought to determine what's important … while the other feels very external, like you're hunting for other people's eyeballs. And why does one seem like so much fun, while the other seems like so much work?
When you're striving for authenticity, you're working to be as true and honest to yourself as you possibly can … and in order to do that, first have to figure out what your values even are, and get a grasp on what really matters to you. In the case of wedding planning, it can be about setting your priorities. Is it all about family? Is it all about your vows and the ceremony? Is it all about food? Authenticity is all about truly knowing yourself and your partner. It takes effort and guts to figure yourself and your partner out, and it's usually kind of private, introspective process. No meetings with vendors or collages here: just looking inside and considering yourself.
Pursuing attention, on the other hand, feels super externalized … all about other people's expectations and reactions and responses. On a certain level, when you're attention-seeking, you're handing over your happiness to other people — because that thing that you're doing? It only really matters if someone else is looking and (hopefully) approving.
It can make you feel manic and anxious, always thinking, Will they like this? Will this amaze them? What will people do when we hit them with THIS?! It can lead to a ton of validation-seeking, where you're constantly testing out ideas on people and watching for their responses.
"We're thinking of having all our parents walk us down the aisle together," you say to a friend, and then watch for a smile or a twitch of the eyelid. Did that smile mean they like it? Or did it mean they're just being nice? Shit, I can't tell! Now I think I'm going to have an anxiety vomit all over the floor!
So, if seeking attention is the more stressful way of doing things, full of freaking out and anxiety vomit … why does it feel so much more fun? Why would many of us rather spent our time obsessing over the perfect guest gift basket ("Ooh, I'm going to put themed breath mints in, and then we'll pull out a box before our first kiss — ZOMG IT'S PERFECT!") over spending a few solid hours into consideration over our vows? Why do we get all giddy over the delicious details, but find ourselves repeatedly changing themes or venues because we're just not sure what's really even important when it comes to the big picture?
I'm a hundred and fifty percent guilty of this, and not just in wedding planning. Why is it so much more fun to impress other people than to truly know yourself?! What if you're an extrovert and seeking attention IS authentic? Gah! My brain! It's pretzeling!
I guess it comes down to this: Attention gives you the cheap high of other people's energy focused at you … but authenticity gives you that deep, long-lasting satisfaction of knowing that you're on the right path and you're doing the right thing. While the quick high is more fun in the short run, the deep satisfaction is ultimately more filling.
The pursuit of attention is thinking the day after the wedding, "OMG PEOPLE SAID OUR WEDDING WAS THE MOST AWESOME WEDDING EVAR!!!" and then realizing you can barely remember the day because you were so worked up.
The pursuit of authenticity is thinking to yourself five years after the wedding, "I'm still living out my vows in this commitment … every single day."
About Ariel Meadow Stallings
Author of Offbeat Bride: Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides, Ariel acts as the publisher of all the Offbeat Empire websites. She lives, loves, and dorks out hard in Seattle, WA.
Margarita said
I totally agree with you. I get a little upset with the pursuit of attention, I believe a wedding is about you and your spouse, and not about anyone else. My girlfriend who's getting married is obsessed with attention, not about what she and her fiance want, but what is expected of them, what would be better than her friend's wedding (whose date is 2 weeks before hers), ensuring her centrepieces are bigger, her bombonierres are better – and really, for what?
No one is truly going to say, your wedding was so much better than hers! And that's all she's focusing on…
"I'm still living out my vows in this commitment… every single day."
That's beautiful. That's important. People remember if you're happy ten years from now, not what your centrepieces looked like.
Tracy said
love this!
when I first started planning our wedding, I was all about the attention-pursuing details but later realized that they don't really matter and they just aren't US. when my focus changed to authenticity, everything fell into place and I wasn't stressing out so much. and ya know what? people saw that authenticity at the wedding and we got a lot of "this is the best wedding EVAR!" anyways! so I guess what I'm saying is that if you're true to yourselves, people WILL notice
Kate Myers said
This is such a great post to read 5 days before the wedding – we haven't been sweating details AT ALL and it has scared people, from vendors to parents. But we will spend hours today not making favor baskets but sweating over the perfect ketuba wording and readings. I'm so relaxed, too, and want to take steps to feel present and warm and open on that day.
RC said
Great post.
Kate said
I'm a total introvert and so's my guy, so even having a large wedding at all is about as inauthentic as it can be. And because our families are important to us (we're both only children and I'm an only grandchild to boot) we're doing it anyway… but from the moment I called my folks to announce the engagement, the whole wedding felt like it wasn't authentic to me. Authentic to me is NOT being the center of attention.
Still… it'll all work out. I do kinda like wearing my dress…
Rach said
Hi Kate,
My fiance & I are only children too, and I'm also an only grandchild. Yet, my hubby-to-be has a large family so we too are planning a larger wedding than I'd prefer. I think it'll all work out
Sabrina said
I can relate to this. I would have been happy with no event, just a trip to the JP's office. Friends and family were aghast at this sentiment when I mentioned it well before my fiance proposed. I realized, by the time he let slip the Big Question, that a Wedding (capital W) is something my fiance kind of yearns for, even if he wouldn't admit to it as a romantic yearning–not just a formality for him but meaningful! (Aww…)
As my search for authenticity begins, I am grappling with the fact that what NEEDS to happen is this attention focused on us. Well, as the bride, on ME. I have to figure out how I'm comfortable PRESENTING myself and our relationship to the COMMUNITY. So of course what they think is important–if it wasn't, why a public declaration of our love and commitment at all?
JA said
Great post, and a much-needed reminder as I close in on the 2-months-to-go point. We want an easygoing, fun wedding — and yet I still can find myself worrying whether or not something "fits" with what we're doing — when, in reality, if it's something we want, it should "fit" just fine!
Meg said
Amen. What else is there to say, really?
And you know, when your looking for validation in wedding planning it always leaves you sad, because it is never as important to other people as it is to you. With authenticity though, you already have complete satisfaction, even if no one ever even looks/stops/thinks/cares.
Yesss.
jx Ï‹ said
does it have to be Doritos or steamed broccoli? can we have a bit of both? what I mean is, I enjoying putting events together and sharing what I think is wonderful and beautiful, which seems very Martha-Stewart-wanna-be and attention mongering, and it does make a difference that people pay attention, that they "get it", because if it doesn't sink in, it's wasted. but if people could come only for the wedding or the reception, it should be the wedding – to witness and support those being wed. that's what the party is to celebrate, right?
my impression of many OBBS is that they want to be substantive AND have their guests genuinely appreciate – not just be entertained by – their weddings. hmmm, maybe I can make Doritos into some kind of topping for the steamed broccoli…..
erin said
I'm printing this up and posting it everywhere to remind me to stop worrying over what my conservative family may think, to stop caring what my insanely snobby co-workers will gossip about the Monday after around the water cooler, and to just be the real and uniquely, odd wonderful us!
Thank you Ariel!
Kate said
I understand and completely agree with this post. I have to reiterate that it can be REALLY hard to be true to yourself and considerate of your guests. Of course your wedding is about you, but when you invite other people into your world it's natural (and right, I think) to consider their comfort and enjoyment. But it's easy to take this too far. And sometimes it's not always so much about wanting to impress as it is not wanting to disappoint. I struggle with fear of rejection and failure (who doesn't?) and when I get an eyebrow raise or silent, pursed lips from mom or bff upon suggesting some slightly "wacky" wedding idea, it's very hard not be deflated by that. BUT, when that happens, Offbeat Bride is right here to lift my spirits and remind me that it's ok- great even- to be different and to keep the focus on what's real and genuine.
Annette said
I think of all the posts I've read since discovering this (amazing) website – this is the one I know will stick with me the most..I think (for me anyway) our wedding will be a little bit of both. It is our day, our promises to each other..but we've also invited the people we care about most to share it with us. And in some ways its about them too – and them sharing the moment with us, so yes, I do care about what they think – but that's not going to stop me from having the most amazing bright blue wedding shoes ever, or dancing back down the isle with my future husband to a great South African rock song
Hibryd said
I think there's a balance to strike. You don't want to lose yourself and what you want in the decision-making process, but I also think that if you have all these friends and family members taking time out of their weekend or even traveling in from another state for your wedding, you should absolutely make them comfortable, keep them entertained, and yes, you should hope they like it.
If you're too focused on your enjoyment, on your wants, your feelings, you turn into an insufferable narcissist. I think a little worrying about what other people think is a GOOD thing, because it makes your step outside of yourself and look at a situation from another perspective.
Marina said
I think weddings are inherantly a bit of both. I feel the same way about the "it's YOUR day" philosophy–yes, it is your day, but if it was ONLY your day you wouldn't be inviting anyone to watch. I feel very strongly that weddings (which I differentiate from marriages) are about community. For myself, and I think for a lot of us here, my vows aren't making a commitment so much as reaffirming the commitment I've already made. I'm not going to be saying anything I haven't already said to my partner, but I will be saying it in front of a large group of people.
So for me at least, the question of wedding design is not "How close can I get to 100% authentic to me and my partner?" but "How can I balance my individual authenticity with the needs and wants and hopes of my community?"
Sara said
I am totally with Marina on this one, and I love when she said, "How can I balance my individual authenticity with the needs and wants and hopes of my community?" That sums up what I am trying to do in my wedding planning perfectly. Is my wedding as offbeat as I want it to be? Nope… but it was important to me that my family and friends still feel comfortable with the majority of the choices I made.
courtney said
Yuppers! This was the exact difference between my first wedding and the one I'm planning now. The first time, I wanted people to view me as an adult and to see me as beautiful. I also wanted validation through presents *Shudder* The day after the wedding, I had a break down where I cried for two hours, then had all my hair chopped off. I realized it was because I felt I didn't get the validation I was expecting. And I think I didn't know what to do next with my life. I've really discovered myself since then.
This time, I don't really care who comes and I'm not expecting gifts. If people don't have fun at my wedding lunch, that's their problem, but I know that it will be exactly what we want–just a low-key day in the sun with great food. I'm just excited for the day to be with my new husband, family and friends. Anyone who shows up is welcome and anyone who doesn't come won't leave hurt feelings.
Jessica said
Great post. Thanks for saying it so clearly.
Chelsea said
"I'm still living out my vows in this commitment … every single day."
Totally got tingles =) Thank you for posting this
Lauren said
My black venetian-style birdcage veil is totally an attention detail. I couldn't resist the urge to make my mother squirm. Other than that, everything is all about feeling at home at our wedding. Of course, I doubt anyone will believe that I'm most at home in a haunted garden with candles and masks…but I am!
quiana burwell said
Ariel- you have been on it girl…Great post!!!
Nena said
great post. Even I, who never really gave a flying fuck what other people liked, still was a little worried that people might think my wedding was lame. But I still did what I wanted and just hoped that if they didnt like it, they were at least polite to my face about it. In the end, it really was just ONE day, and 318 days later, Im more excited about my marriage than I ever was about my wedding.
Mrs Phoenix said
Thank-you for this, I've been struggling a bit with both sides of 'the pursuit of attention'. I've worried about making this wedding beautiful and been disappointed when people don't care about my ideas. On the other side of this I have held back on some decisions as I was worried about the attention they would draw.
Now I can feel secure in making the decision to carry a camera as my bouquet because that is genuinely me (even though I love flowers, I love my cameras more) and not worry about whether guests or other people will think I am weird.
Kodiak said
Hibryd and Marina, I agree with you completely.
I really appreciate your distinction, Ariel, in that you're describing two different reasons we do things that we want to do, one of which is much more profound than the other. But like some of the above posters, I think it's important to note that there are other reasons we wedding plan for people other than us–being an attention seeker sucks, sure, but trying to create an experience that makes everyone happy, that IS about more than just us, is amazing.
I don't want my wedding to be an expression of my and my mister's authentic selves. I want it to be an expression of the authenticity of the huge amazing community that surrounds us.
Ariel said
Kodiak (et al) thanks for bringing up an interesting distinction: I don't see it as being authentic VS. keeping your community in mind. If your family and community are a big part of your life, then including them in the event is totally authentic.
The distinction for me isn't about serving others vs. serving self. It's about finding out what's important vs. going for what's going to make the biggest splash.
Kodiak said
Oh totally, totally agreed! I think we all just wanted to make the point that looking outwards/caring what others think is not always attention seeking.
Nat said
While I think I understand the spirit of this post, some of the subsequent comments have prompted me to defend myself and my fellow true extroverts.
You touched on this slightly, but for me attention-seeking is authentic. I spent a long time during my early 20s wanting to change who I was, hating myself for always wanting/needing to be the centre of attention. While this trait in me might not always be fantastic, I've come to accept that it's who I am. I love doing Karaoke in front of a crowd of strangers (even though I can't sing). I'm always the first to jump up if there's an opportunity to express my feelings at a loved ones birthday or wedding. This is authentic to me.
I wear my heart on my sleeve and yes, I want people to see it there and value it.