Christmas is almost here and with it, the end of a number of reality competition/game shows; the likes of I'm A Celebrity..., X Factor and The Apprentice have all been pulling in millions of viewers over recent weeks but they have all come to an end. Thankfully. Not that I don't enjoy them; as some of you will know, I am a not-so-closeted fan of Strictly Come Dancing - I've watched it religiously for the last few series, ever since Tom Chambers' foxtrot got me watching black and white Fred Astaire films. X Factor on the other hand leaves me cold - I am not even slightly interested in Simon's machinations and Cheryl's traumas.
What is it about these programmes that catches our attention or not? Why do we latch on to some and get really caught up in them and ignore others? Maybe it is a simple interest in the people taking part and a curiosity to see who wins. Perhaps it is that we actually want to be on the shows ourselves, taking part and hopefully winning the prize but for some reason can't or have chosen not to enter. However, if each year we pick the same shows it says something about what we enjoy which in turn reflects what is important to us.
The cultural inputs that we remember, that we have enjoyed over the years, often tell us something about our values, the filter we have that determines what is of primary concern to us, which explains why we do things the way that we do.
For me dancing is all about strength and the control of it. A dance also flows and it allows people to display flair and artistry. These are of some importance to me as principles in life. Most of all though, week by week, Strictly shows people learning, gaining skills and surprising themselves with what is possible which is something that motivates me - I am driven by seeing people improve.
What do you watch most often and what does it tell you about yourself and your values? How are those values reflected in everything else that you do? I find I am often concerned with the flow of an article or event and I am always looking to learn and improve the way I do things. If I didn't I would expect to start experiencing a certain amount of unease when my life didn't match my values. For other people it might be squaring flying around the world for work with wanting to be greener in the way they treat the planet, or having to deal harshly with people when you desperately want to be loved by everyone.
Whatever our values, once we discover what these internal issues are that determine why we act the way we do, we can then try to incorporate them in more of what we do, providing ourselves with more satisfaction: in a job done the way we think is right; from time spent productively; seeing a person develop and grow as a result of our input.
For many people, Christmas Day is spent in front of the telly; if that's you, what will you watch and what does it tell you about yourself?
Happy Christmas!