Panache Blog

Thursday, September 08, 2011

The Tao of Jersey Shore

When I am in need of moments of unfiltered humanity I find myself tuning in to the cast of the Jersey Shore. There is nothing like a peek at their lives to help me integrate mine. This season, the reality show cast  find themselves in Italy unleashing a brand new wave of mayhem.

Reality TV has flourished because it appeals to our voyeuristic nature. Unscripted drama, alcohol-fueled fights, and unexpressed tension build to a crescendo each week as character after character spews the content of their pain body at the closest target. 

Partying and excessive drinking turns rational adults into volatile cash cows as these conflicting personalities don't need much of a spark to turn a peaceful situation into a raging furnace. Under the camera’s constant glare and the directors’ perfectly crafted conditions, natural filters disappear, everyone’s unconscious content is off to the races, and raw unprocessed emotion is accessed with explosive volatility.

The juicy outcome? Millions of viewers sit at home and tune in each week.

I have my own reality TV theory and it goes like this… people who watch this behavior on television are secretly drawn to that level of dysfunction because it appeals to a part of them. Here’s why: 1) they either compare their life to the behavior being displayed in order to feel better about their own personal situation, or 2) they live vicariously through the characters because they would never allow themselves to display that level of insanity in public.  

The first is simply an act of judging what’s being seen and the second is an act of seeing oneself in what’s playing out in front of their eyes, which, to me, is the “real” in “reality.” 

Whenever you judge any behavior as “bad,” you are judging an aspect of yourself that has the ability to behave the same way.  This is good for placating your ego with thoughts of “at least I’m not THAT bad,” but it still contains the judgment of self and others.  Your ego’s need to feel “better than” is satisfied, but your judgment still keeps you from fully and completely embracing yourself – a necessary step to love, peace, harmony, and all those things we seek to experience in our lives. 

Living vicariously through the behaviors displayed in these programs gives you a chance to embrace aspects of yourself that you wouldn’t ordinarily put on full display.  Because it’s these things that we typically judge, stuff down, repress, oppress and hide from others, if not ourselves!  So, in a way, reality TV allows us to have a very real glimpse into ourselves. 

And it’s all these behaviors  we judge, stuff down, etc., that keep us from fully knowing ourselves, embracing who we are as complete, whole, magnificent Divine beings, and experiencing oneness!  It’s only by recognizing that every aspect – whether you judge it as “good” or “bad” – is perfect just as it is in this moment. 

So watching the Jersey Shore or the Real Housewives CAN be a path to unity!  Really!!

It’s time to embrace your inner “Snooki” and get down with your JWoww, see where you put yourself in the situation like Mike, embrace your inner Vinny and love your Pauly D.  And, of course, last but not least, embrace the romantic whirlwind and heart-wrenching, drama-filled relationship that is Ronnie and Sam.

Watching people’s unconscious content play out on TV is not going away anytime soon. So, for now, whether you are a fan or not, reality TV continues to rule the ratings.  Take a peek.  And, while you’re watching one of these shows, allow them to bring you closer to unity consciousness.

Thanks Jersey Shore and Real Housewives!

Posted at 1:53 pm  |  Send to a Friend