CONTEMPLATING INFLUENCE
I have a multi-layered view of influence.
I’ve experienced it as an artist attempting to expand my sphere of influence, and helping other brands, personalities and artists to strategise and expand theirs through my work in radio and music culture. I also started working for the traditional medium of radio just before and at the onset of social media. Having also studied media, obtaining a diploma in Mass Communication, I was more aware of how different mediums influence and are influenced by audiences, commercialism and government. I have always resonated with maintaining an ethical responsibility over the power of influence, and respecting the audience instead of manipulating them.
Influence is a form of trust. A trust in someone’s talent, experience, thought-process, ability. Whatever influences us is what we give our attention, consumption and belief to. Whatever influences us gives us energy and also receives our energy in return. This bi-directional energy connection has a quality and intensity.
The influencer broadcasts a message containing an idea, concept or philosophy that we can choose to accept, reject or ignore. For example: the idea that pink is a girly colour, the concept of masculinity, or the philosophy that we are separate from God. We are moved by a message if we accept or reject it. It affects our mind, body, emotions - changes our energy. If we don’t see it or observe without attachment, we don’t create a connection and it has no influence over us.
Before the internet, ideas, concepts and philosophies travelled slowly. Primitive and slow mediums of cave walls, tribal songs and stories became mass and fast mediums of print, radio and television. Technology sped up the transmission of ideas at such a rate that the leap from cave to station to desktop to mobile has made the transmission of a message almost instant. What once took years to pass down and groups of people collaborating to produce, is now at the tip of your finger, with lower and fewer barriers to entry thanks to the ease with which you can express yourself through phones and apps. Now, you are the medium.
But how conscious are we really, about our message and influence? How much are we aware of the intentions and energy behind what we give our attention to and put out to the world? How clear or chaotic are we in our communication? Why do you give, and what do you want to receive? There are many ways and tools to structure and deliver your message but what is at the heart of who you are? That is the energy you are putting out - both conscious and unconscious.
It is increasingly important for us to raise our awareness and manage our energy in a hyper-connected world because of how immediately ideas and emotions move. Without awareness, the energies of fear, anger, insecurity and anxiety increase in influence. When we clarify and process the many layers that make us who we are, we give ourselves the chance to connect deeper with ourselves and project from a place of conscious awareness.
Here are some prompts for consideration: