CONFESSION: I get really weird in front of a camera. I feel super awkward and the potential for me to make the dumbest face ever and have it posted up for eternity, is high. SO much so – that my brother and I used to pose for all family photos with our eyes closed and our mouths open on purpose because then we MEANT for them to be bad.

Selfies have been everywhere in the news – are they good? are they evil? are they destroying our self esteem or building it?

What do you think?

As with everything – there’s a balance.
A smiling selfie in front of the 9/11 Memorial? No.
Selfies at accidents or tragedies? No.

But used for good, selfies have 3 really good arguments for them.

1. You Can Communicate a Message or Feeling That’s Important To You.

From something as simple as spreading good thoughts with a thumbs up or fighting for an important cause – a selfie with your message puts a human being behind the statement and makes it more powerful.

Tony Rossi has this selfie as his avatar.  His positive thumbs up photo next to the encouraging words he sent to us when we were on the road for our Kickstarter – both caught my eye and had a greater impact on me.   When I was at my lowest point, his message and thumbs up selfie kept me going.  It was personal.

Right now, the #NotAMartyr hashtag and accompanying Statement Selfies help to put human faces behind the ongoing crisis in Lebanon. Seeing the people affected by the fighting and reading their true statements to the world can help make real change.

2. For The First Time Ever, There are More Photos Out There of Regular People than Models.

And I think that’s awesome – the more we can celebrate all of our differences and the unique things about us as individuals – BRING IT ON.

With impossible beauty standards touted in the media, the selfie is the revolution of taking back the power and showing beauty in diversity.
My friend, Rai says, “Selfies are self love.” 
I love viewing people’s selfies because getting a glimpse into their day-to-day lives, their triumphs, and their adventures sometimes gives me a new perspective. Even seeing silly selfies with pets and things like that – I think helps us all to connect more personally as our world keeps getting smaller through the internet.

Psychologists agree. Pamela Rutledge, Ph.D., faculty director of the media psychology program at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology says,

“The cult of the selfie celebrates regular people,”

3. Selfies Can Help You Define Yourself and Your Dreams To The World.

Of course you’ve heard the phrase, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Most people are extremely visual.

Think about it….if you see someone holding a guitar in the airport, whether you ever hear them play or not – your brain categorizes them as a “musician”. Yes?

Well, when I started playing guitar – I wanted to put my dream out there. I wanted people to associate me with my guitar – there’s some kind of selfie magic to that if you will…

I asked you on Twitter for your selfies with the things you love to do and your dreams:
Cat tweeted a selfie of herself and her pony, Katie. She is a rider and keeps on her dream to keep getting better.

Cheyenne Cogan tweeted a selfie of her and her beloved instuments as she’s doing her dreams.

Laurabell is an emerging fashion designer and loves to create costumes and styles. In this selfie, she shares her creation and artistry with the world:

What do YOU think about selfies?
Good or evil?
Post your favorite selfies in the comments – I wanna see you!
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