Celebrity Inspiration

I might as well chime in on the Tiger Woods scandal. God knows everyone else cannot seem to stop talking about it. Personally I could not care less. We all screw up. Granted we all do not crash our cars into trees or have multiple dalliances with loose women. We should not be surprised, though we often are, when our heroes prove themselves to be less than superhuman.

I have discussed in an earlier post our need to place people on pedestals. It is human nature to look to celebrities as if they deserve to be the guiding light for our lives. What makes that so dangerous is that no one is perfect. Anyone we truly care about will inevitably disappoint us. Why is there such a fascination with those whom we deem to be better than ourselves?

We all need people to inspire us and guide us with their words and actions. This aspect of our nature is not harmful per se. The problems start when we expect too much from our heroes. We may, in some instances, be willing to forgive one's fall from grace. We are especially generous when the fall is followed by many mea culpas from the sinner in question.

Sometimes though we cannot get past whatever transgression was committed. Our balloons are burst and there is no hope for the celebrity to remain in our good graces. It is not enough to look toward those who might guide us. We must tell ourselves that these people can do no wrong. We have to believe that they, in all that they do, will be right with the angels.

This is the epicenter of the difficulty with placing people up so high in our esteem. We need to strive to become better or greater than who and what we are now. There must be someone to whom we can aspire to emulate. For this person to be worthy we tell ourselves a real whopper. Our hero or heroine can do no wrong. Why else would we believe that we must follow in their footsteps?

We must convince ourselves that perfection is not only possible but preferable. It is this mindset that leads so many astray. It truly shocks us when people like Tiger show that they are capable of some of the same missteps that we are. It is healthy and beneficial to look upwards when seeking guidance. It would be better for us if we were also prepared for the times our idols stumble.

It does seem to be a shock to the system each time someone, whom we had previously thought as perfect, takes a fall. The next time we hold up someone's success as an example for one's life we must also consider all of the little failures that it took for them to get there. No celebrity asks to be held aloft on our collective shoulders. They know better than most how far down the fall can be and how fickle the minds are of the American public.