Invisibility – Curse or Power?

I am almost certain that if Gallup was to run a global analysis about being invisible, the results would be something like: 3.5 billion out of the 7.7 billion people on earth have at least once fantasised of being invisible, 2.1 billion have feared of being invisible one day and 2 billion have felt both while the rest have not yet thought about it.

It comes back to two major facts about us and I believe it is Dale Carnegie who shared the belief that people’s need to feel important is probably as powerful as our other basic requirements for sleep, water and food.

In fact, humans crave recognition… and sometimes the fear of being invisible can get to intense that it gets unhealthy. For a long time I’ve been wondering why envy, jealousy, gossip, backstabbing and victimisation form part of some people’s daily routine until I really understood that the intention behind was to protect themselves from getting invisible.

Let’s think about it a few minutes… are all these negative emotions towards others not simply a reflection of poor self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, fear of stepping up – in other words, fear of being invisible? And rather than making changes to our own behaviour, is undermining others in their efforts and success then not the easiest way to hide from our own failings?

What about having the power of invisibility. Just imagine you could do it right now! I bet most of us would have used it to try fulfil our craziest dreams (first) rather than using it to do good. If you smile it means our thoughts are not so different. If instead you are shaking your head, I might have some doubts about your honesty… hahaha.

More seriously, most humans are basically selfish… which, mind me, might not be a bad thing. Remember that on air planes you are instructed to put on your oxygen mask before helping anyone sitting with you. Help and love yourself first so you can help and love others.

This is where it gets complex – recognition is often received for deeds we do not necessarily feel engaged with. We still do them because we need recognition; we need to be visible. But, should we have a chance to be invisible, we would have done completely differently.

Having said all this, I honestly believe it takes only one thing to counter the paradox – Integrity! Which means: you do as you should because you want to do as you should, whether you are seen or not, whether you are recognised or not, whether you are visible or invisible. Get your importance from within!