WYSIWYG?

A friend of mine introduced me to a new acronym; WYSIWYG. It stands for what you see is what you get. She went on to explain that she used this acronym when working as a technical support person. This computer culture of people that she once worked among, of course had their own lingo. Looking up the definition I discovered that WYSIWYG “describes the software that accurately reflects the appearance of the finished product.” (Merriman-Webster Dictionary)

For example, as I write this blog in google docs. It will appear as I’ve written it when I copy and paste it onto my blog site. For my writing to appear as it is on my blog, it has to first begin somewhere else. In my case, it begins in google docs. When you read it from the blog site it will be the accurate reflection of what I’ve already written in google docs. 

So it is with who we are. To appear in our genuine, authentic, real, and inartificial form in the midst of others, we first have to be, when we are by ourselves, in our genuine, authentic, real and inartificial form. 

We are all familiar with Shakespeare’s famous line from his play Hamlet; “To thine own self be true.” But the rest of that line says, “And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not be false to any man.” 

Being original with others begins with being original with ourselves. 

A true test of how we are when we are alone with ourselves is to sit quietly for a few minutes and get a feel of what it is like to be in our own skin. Do we like ourselves? Can we easily smile at ourselves?  Are we comfortable being present with ourselves? If not, why not?

Are we our own worst enemy? Do we belittle, criticize and speak to ourselves in a demeaning way? Learning to accept and see ourselves in all our wonderful or flawed ways is the beginning of seeing and accepting others that way too. 

When we put up fronts, false bravado, or falsehoods in our own company or in the company of others, we are working hard at striving, straining and stilting who we are. It’s a hard way to live.  

If you don’t know yourself very well, you can always ask someone for their insights. You might be surprised by what they have to say to you about you. An honest answer from them just may feel like a warm hug. 

Why Bother?

Why bother being a WYSIWYG? When we are WYSIWYGs, then we are unable to be false with ourselves or with others. Our true selves reflect our true selves and when asked to give a truthful insight to another, we may just be that warm hug they are looking for.

P.S.  I wrote the story of my journey to forgiveness for those who, like me, know they need to change, but are not quite sure where to start. You can find A Heart’s Journey To Forgiveness at Redemption Press and Amazon.