Fame is Not Related to Happiness

Fame is an empty promise. We rip on celebrities incessantly, and nothing is held back. I know anyone who leaves their house opens themselves up to criticism, but multiply that times thousands, along with a career that depends on fame and fortune, and you have a recipe for dysfunction.

Talent search shows, for example, exist not to catapult young hopefuls to fame, but to make money just being what they are. They are machines whose goals are to keep themselves alive, not to altruistically launch the careers of performers.

Many stars, though they earn a lot, have high overhead. Add to that the fact that they may not have business and money management skills. They have to put those things in the trust of others who may take advantage of them. Ultimately, someone in the entertainment industry is in business for themselves. Winning movie awards and managing finances are two totally different skill sets

We hate on celebrities for the tiniest infractions, and forgive them for the biggest things. There is no sense of perspective concerning what will and won't be criticized. That type of uncertainty is not for the faint of heart.

The lack of privacy is a natural consequence. I used to say that's what they signed up for but now my attitude has softened a little. Living under a microscope is no way of life, and while they do put themselves out there, they are not alone in promoting themselves. Most businesses promote themselves; not all capture the insatiable attention of the public.

This makes personal relationships more difficult. Every aspect of their relationships, good or bad, is magnified. This can only serve to foster a sense of isolation and paranoia.

Fear of financial ruin, harsh criticism, lack of privacy, and troubled relationships make inner peace difficult. So anyone who won't be happy until they're famous has the entirely wrong outlook. Many want to be famous so they can have the money and glamour. The best situation of all would be to have the money and glamour without the fame.

Since being famous presents a lot of challenges, it makes sense that people who are able to handle fame and be happy would be happy if they weren't famous. Knowing who they are helps them to handle fame, and the money is just icing on the cake. Those who consider fame to be the cake itself are less equipped to handle it.