But…

But, the world has a tendency to reprogram our minds, and make women think you have to look a certain way to feel beautiful. The pictures are everywhere, and so many of them are fake. So next time you see a photo on a billboard, or on a magazine cover while waiting in line at the grocery store, remind yourself that even the most beautiful women in the world still just aren’t beautiful enough.

If this photo of Faith Hill wasn’t good enough for the Redbook Magazine cover, and… if the images you see every day impact you on a deeper level than you probably realize… well, you can begin to imagine why my wife doesn’t always feel pretty. (And why you a lot of times don’t feel pretty either.)

Before:

Faith Hill Unedited Redbook Cover Photo

After:

Faith Hill Edited Redbook Cover Photo

Or, in case you couldn’t see just how dramatic the changes actually are, check it out this way:

As if Faith’s arm was just WAY too fat. Ugh.

Remember, you are beautiful, and you are enough, just as you are. Don’t let Photoshop and it’s shallow users tell you otherwise. Do not be deceived.

You could read more of this issue of Redbook Magazine and learn everything from make up tricks to “how to show your sexy side.” But if you can’t even trust the cover, why even open it’s pages??  Look at the photos, then read the headlines printed on the cover. Am I the only one that finds the advertised articles utterly ridiculous, considering the irony of the over-editted photo??

QUESTION: Am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculously sad, and incredibly unhealthy for our culture?  As a girl, does it impact your ability to feel beautiful?

Total time to find a deceptive ad on YouTube: 60 seconds. 15 seconds to search, and 45 more to watch the commercial.  Of course, the ad being deceptive is just my opinion. To me, the promise they make is just an illusion.

Watch, paying careful attention to the end of the commercial, then continue reading…  (Facebook Note readers can find the video here, because FB doesn’t import the embedded video from my blog.)

Joy. According to BMW, that’s what you receive by driving one of their cars. You aren’t just buying a car, you’re purchasing joy.  And let’s not just pick on BMW. The list of car-makers who use their ads to appeal to our emotions, rather than explain why they make the best car, is endless.

Instead of me rambling about deception here, I’m way more curious what YOU think.  As you share your opinions and comments, please keep in mind these few final questions from me:

1. One of the highest rates of suicide is among wealthy business men. Does that mean that you can’t purchase true happiness no matter how much money you have?  Or is there a link between your level of income and your state of happiness?

2. BMW makes excellence cars, and therefore, some argue that more expensive, luxury cards are simply a better investment of your resources. Does that sometimes justify the purchase of a more expensive car like a Mercedes, Lexus, or BMW?

3. Driving a luxury car makes you feel good about yourself, and therefore provides a moment of happiness. It also changes the way people look at you. Is there anything wrong with that?

4. In the short 3 minutes it took to read this post, over 30 children died because their families couldn’t afford to buy food. Is this relevant at all to this conversation?

5. Does this kind of advertising really affect our decision-making, the way we think about ourselves, and how we choose to live? Or am I just making a big deal out of nothing?

What do you think? I’d be honored if you took the time to share…

That was just last night, and already one of my crew guys asked me today in the process of choosing our lunch spot, “Have you seen the Taco Bell commercial about the new healthy menu?”  Wow…word travels fast! Advertising works, huh?

Or does it?

Watch for yourself, then continue reading…

It doesn’t take a lot of thought to find the craziness of this commercial.  Last night after we saw it, and my friend started talking about it, I immediately asked him if he saw any of the fine print at the bottom of the screen. Thanks to DVR, we simply rewound the commercial and read each word.  It’s easy to catch…if you’re paying attention.  Feel free to go back and watch it again and read for yourself.

Besides, if you’re interested in losing weight, why not do a little research and put together a plan?  The purpose of this commercial was not for Taco Bell to try to change your order when you visit their restaurant.  The agenda is to get you to consider them as an option when you’re making your restaurant choices.  If you’re looking for healthy food and trying to get in shape, Taco Bell would now like to be included in your options.  But if you’re really trying to get in shape, it won’t take much research to discover that Taco Bell probably shouldn’t be in the running.  If that commercial inspired you to eat more healthy, that’s awesome, but don’t let the people who just want your money do your thinking for you.  She lost 54 lbs. in two years, (according to the fine print).  54 lbs? That’s about 2 lbs. a month! How is that so amazing??

I could go on and on…

Every day the average mind, (including yours), takes in an average of over 3,000 messages and advertisements.  That’d be cool if they were healthy and added value to our lives.  Or if we were all decently aware of how easy it is to be deceived.  The problem is, we aren’t.  We don’t question. We don’t search.  We don’t even pay attention.  And over and over again we believe lies, and ended up wasting money, or way worse, harming ourselves.

I know, some of you think I’m being ridiculous and am making a big deal out of nothing. Is all of this deception really dangerous?  Or at the end of the day, does it end up not mattering?  I think it does matter.  Maybe if you’re in good shape, splurging at Taco Bell on a Fresco Burrito won’t have much of an impact.  But what if someone’s doctor told them they seriously need to get in shape to improve their health? What if that same person got home, sat on the couch, turned on the TV, and watched this ad?  What if that person then changed their daily lunch choice to the menu in the commercial?  What if that person’s doctor was right, and this person’s unhealthy eating habits posed serious threats to their well-being?  All of a sudden, it’s a big deal.

But the big deal isn’t Taco Bell.  Ultimately, you can’t hold them responsible.  The big deal is that you and I make stupid decisions every day, all because we let someone else do our thinking for us, and influence the way we spend our time and our money. I know that ordering a taco is a small decision, but 5 or 6 small decisions a day make up the way we live our lives, and how we live matters.

Discovering the lies hidden in advertising simply scratches the surface when it comes to how we’re deceived.  But let’s spend some time in future posts looking at some other ads, and seriously considering the impact they have on you, your friends, and your world.

Have you been deceived?  Wait, let me try again…

How have you been deceived?