I loved th post.  I agree that oftentimes the worst thing we can do for ourselves is attempt to imitate the actions, writing, style etc. of others.  Often times others can tell when what we are doing is not really of oursleves and we end up worse off than if we had tried to stay true to ourselves.

Very true, and  a challenge to strive for authenticity at all times in every way.

I absolutely agree.  Unfortunately, sometimes before a persons creative mind opens up, they start mimicing somone else. 

That is interesting. I wonder how long a phony can blog without feeling rejected? Real people connect with real people and those relationships will last. Thank you for this blog post. I am going to be on the watch out now.

Stage It Forward! 

Thanks for visiting...

Chris, I wonder if we encouraged others to be themselves and affirmed them if there would be much less of a need to feel the urge to mimic...it's about acceptance isn't it?

Sheron, Phoniness is a symptom of another very real problem, the underlying fear of rejection.  What's interesting is that in the pretense, the rejection is never of the real person...since we never met them.  How scary is that??  And, on the reverse, what huge rewards do we miss because we're afraid to be real!

Lola Audu 

I couldn't agree more.  People occasionally laugh at the 'stream of consciousness' way my blog postings sound (and, actually, all of my writing-- ask my bride about love letters from the past!) but it's 'me' and that's as honest to my thought processes as I can be.  It may cause me some confused readers that occasionally have to re-read in order to 'get it' but at least its me instead of my 'ripoff' of someone else's style.  With that being said, you'll NEVER see me on American Idol.

Chris, Ditto to that last comment about American Idol!!!  Actually visited your blog & found the post about your "lost home town" made for some interesting reminiscing...Thanks for stopping by.

Lola Audu

Interesting post.

Although I do think people blog for more reasons than we can count a personal diary or feelings from the soul can be a good foundation for building the relationship.

Great reminder post.  Keep it real dawg!!  I never thought I would include that in my own reminder, thanks to your post. 

You can tell the really successful blogger/agents here at AR.  They are masters at keeping it real.  It's a fine line to use them as inspiration, not imitation.

Jeff Turner did a post that is similar to this one a month or so ago on the bloodhound blog.

Have you seen Canadian Idol? We too ham it up for the judges, just as the contestants in US do.  The moral of the story is express yourself genuinely and you will connect.  Thanks for the reminder.

I would also like to add, like American Idol.  Others, like myself, look at blogs and wish they could have the talent to write as so many AR bloggers do.  As you read the blogs you learn how to write a great blog.  Sometimes you want to write what you feel and it just does not come out right.  Thanks to all that I am learning from.

Hello, Christopher & Burnadette, Therese & Denise...

Thanks for visiting and reading this post.  (Refer to my Blog Update of 2/25/2007)...I'm not quite sure how this re-posting happened, but appreciate your comments.  Therese, I love Jeff Turner's work, so I'll have to visit the Bloodhound to see if I can look up his post and read his ideas on the subject.  Chris, I've never seen the Canadian Idol, but like you said, the moral lessons are universal!

Thanks for you comment Berta.  I am also continuing to learn and grow.  Keep at it, you will get better and also read as many blog posts as you can...including outside of Active Rain to understand the basic techniques...then trust who you are and the message you have been sent her to bring.  Only YOU can deliver it!

I love watching American Idol with my kids.  That is exactly what I want them to pick up.  The good ones seem like they really feel the song and it's their's.  The bad ones seem to be just going through the motions.  If you yourself don't feel the song and become passionately connected with it, everyone sees right through it. 

Lola,

I was thinking about this topic today and found this beautifully written post. I didn't want to call the person out, so I thought I could write a blog about it. But this one says it all! Thanks for covering this topic  

When we're young, we need role models to emulate.  Eventually we need to come into our own persona.  I remember that when Johnny Cash first came on the scene, he was hailed by critics as "the new Elvis".  Johnny Cash soon carved out his own compelling personality and style... that's why we remember him.

Love it - be yourself and there's no limit to your potential.  Copy others, and you will be stunted in growth