BASKING IN REFLECTED GLORY

While most of us will never play professional sport or host a late-night talk show, we all can struggle from time to time with wanting to return to our “glory days” as we reminisce about some former phase in our lives.  Our reminiscing can become a danger to our mental health. The reality of the past may differ severely from the memory and we may be longing for someone or something that brought no satisfaction at the time nor would now. We can live in a state of .........if only.....

When we cannot recapture those moments, we can be tempted to set our sights on Basking in Reflected Glory also known as BIRG-ing.

What is BASKING IN REFLECTED GLORY (BIRG-ing)?

In social psychology, BIRG-ing refers to the tendency to associate ones self with the success attained by others as though it were your own. It capitalises on an affiliation with successful individuals or groups, whereby any association at all already enhances the self-image and self-esteem. Remember what it felt like to hang out with the Popular Kids?

"In the world of sports, dressing up in one's favorite team colours is a fun means of BIRG-ing.” http://psychologydictionary.org/basking-in-reflected-glory-birg-ing/#ixzz2lGrRRzPc

 

 

 

As South Africans we all know what that looks like. It’s okay to have heroes and support sports teams but......... this pastime can become our means to identity.

The concept of BIRG-ing is entrenched in Social Identity Theory which explains how one’s self esteem can be enhanced through identification with another person or a group’s success - Merritt Posten

As adolescents we have all been challenged by a crisis of identity:

1.     Who am I?

2.     To which group do I belong?

3.     What do I wish to achieve?

The negative possibility is that developmentally we were hindered and entered adulthood portraying some sense of identity confusion thus we have this need to latch onto others in order to fill a void within. BIRG-ing becomes more than a fun pursuit; we begin to live for the next game or information regarding our idols.

"Idolizing or admiring someone for their accomplishments, and then pushing yourself to excel in the same way can be positive. But, are we worshiping celebrities for being famous or are we worshiping true heroes...If we confuse heroes and celebrities, we deprive ourselves of real role models."- Jennifer Gibson

Whether we are in Church or not we are all at risk here, as the Christian world today has raised Music Groups and TV Preachers to that very same celebrity status.

Let us take some time and reflect on what the Bible says regarding “Glory”:-

Praise the Lord for the Glory that belongs to Him. Psalm 29:2

My Glory I (God) will not give to another. Isaiah 48:11

(Jesus) Christ in you (in me), the hope of Glory. Colossians 1:27

He (Jesus) is the radiance of the Glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature. Hebrews 1:3

Our identity needs to be founded on Truth.

If we are going to BIRG, let’s Bask In The Reflected Glory of God.

 

Blessings

Margsxxx

 

References:

The Holy Bible

Gibson, J: Brain blogger

(Hirt et al. 1992). The Costs and Benefits of Allegiance

Louw et al. 1998. Human Development 2^nd Edition