Lions and Tigers

This isn't my typical forte; my writing is normally a little different. But I got on my Facebook today, and got slapped with three or four different posts from people that just got under my skin. I get tired of hearing about lions. Everyone thinks they're a lion or a tiger. Apparently that implies strength or....something. "I'm hurt from a break-up, but I'll be ok cuz I'm a lion". My favorite one is the picture of the chick with stretch marks that says something like "this tiger earned her stripes". What a joke. I guess if

you're into sleeping all day, and getting gawked at in zoos then to each their own. I just don't understand it.

My problem here isn't with people having emotions and wanting to put positive stuff out there. This feeds into a bigger problem for me-the issue of self-delusion. You can't convince yourself you're something you're not. You might be able to convince others in the short term, but eventually the truth shines through. This is a big problem in how we, as a culture, view our problems. I view it as one of the best displays of our absolute insistence on societal self-delusion. We can’t face the difficult. We fear for our feelings. The status of our self-esteem is the responsibility of others. The consequences of our mistakes shouldn’t fall on us. The achievements of others should be ours. None of these strains of thought is hard to find; look at the news on any given day, and you’ll see it staring you in the face.

But this insistence on feel-good concepts such as “I’m a lion” are a perfect example. People don’t want to face their issues, and they think they can fake it ‘til they make it. They think that just because they said it that it's true. Except the world doesn't work that way, and you can’t. There is no amount of positive self-talk, psychologists or self-help books that can make you strong, or turn you into a conqueror of life. ONLY you can do that. And that takes work that most aren’t willing to put in. What it comes down to is either you’re strong or you’re not. If you are, great. If you’re not, become that way. And, news flash, you aren’t going to do that using some cutesy Facebook post with a picture that made you well up with tears or pride or whatever other emotions just happen to hit you.

You have to be who you are, and if you don’t like who you are its your job to change it. It’s not my job to say “yes, you’re a lion” hoping that you feel better about yourself. I don’t care about your need for instant gratification, nor do I concern myself with the self-image you try to project. I care who you are and, believe it or not, you’re not going to change that by self-motivation and Facebook facade. And let's say this, too: there's nothing wrong with having imperfections, weaknesses and fears. That's the stuff that gives you reasons to improve, and become more. You don't need to apologize for it; you also shouldn't be trying to pretend that its something its not.

But let’s get back to the animal analogy. I do have a meme about something similar that I like simply because it points out, for me, the important point:

If I had to choose an animal, I'm not a lion. I'm a wolf. Screw with my family, and I'll destroy you. I don't perform, I don't aim to please and I don't give a damn what anyone thinks. You know why? Because lions and tigers are just big cats with some serious dental accessories. The wolf, though, is a different animal. The wolf is intelligent, independent, fiercely loyal and not to be trifled with. The wolf understands the world. And as it says above, the wolf DOES NOT PERFORM IN THE CIRCUS. He is free.

So if you want to be something, don't undermine yourself to some cheesy cliche from the latest cute-yet-tough-sounding motivational meme you've decided to use to prop up your fragile self-esteem and cover your insecurities. You might be telling yourself you're a tiger or a lion, but you're not. You're really just a meek little house cat looking for affirmation. To hell with that. Decide exactly what and who you want to be, and then work hard to make it reality. Be a wolf, and make the choice to not give a damn what the world tells you. Because strength doesn't come from a meme or other people. TRUE strength only comes from your ability to stand against the world when the world tells you to sit. And when you actually are that wolf or lion or tiger, you DAMN WELL don’t need to tell people that.