The kid's got it!

Last night, way too late (both at night and in my life...) I went to see Never Say Never. In 3D.

Hey, never say never.

Justin Bieber is adorable, musically gifted, and a skillful dancer. But more than that, he's just likeable. Time and time again in the movie, adult onlookers commented on how Bieber effortlessly captures the attention of the room, responds humorously and adeptly to adversity, and charms his way in and out of trouble. His teachers remember, with a hint in their eyes, a kid who played with his hair and chattered incessantly. They couldn't get him to calm down, to be quiet, but they also loved him and were genuinely amused by his antics. These are the kids who get away with everything by virtue of being themselves. They become leaders and entertainers, politicians and performers. Some people are just like that, it seems. They just have it-whatever it is.

Magnetism

Allure

Presence

Effervescence

Chutzpah

Charm

Confidence

Radiance

Sparkle

Something (this is actually a synonym for charism in the thesaurus, in case there was any doubt as to the terms etymological ambiguity...)

Ronald Riggio notes in Psychology Today that personal charisma is comprised of several key qualities, including: emotional expressiveness (an ability to "express feelings spontaneously and genuinely"), emotional sensitivity (an ability to "read others' emotions), emotional control (an ability to contain emotion and regulate reactions), social expressiveness (ability to entertain and engage in conversation), social sensitivity (an ability to read a room and gauge social dynamics), and social control (a 'poise and grace' that enables one to fit in with anyone). (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201002/charisma-what-is-it-do-you-have-it)

These components create a nebulous but undeniable characteristic that we call, for lack of a better word, charisma. People are inexiblicably attracted to individuals with charisma, who command not only power but affection. These individuals are able to read others and respond compassionately and energetically. They make others feel valued. They usually talk quickly and passionately in unbroken sentences that reveal fervor and assurance, and make others listen. Almost everyone likes them, feels a connection with them, senses a kinship with them. The Biebs might be my current favorite, but there are others:

Napolean

John F. Kennedy

Matt Lauer

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Oprah

Bill Clinton

Sandra Bullock

Benjamin Franklin

Gandhi

Barack Obama

Charles Finney

Vince Vaughn

Will Smith

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Michael Jordan

This personal charisma can manifest in real passion and ability to lead people or to perform to the general delight of all, or to be a wonderful friend. But, like any gift, it can deteriorate and corrupt, in this case, into base self-seeking and delusional narcissism. You get Jesus, you also get Hitler.

We all know people like this (you may even be one of these charismatic figures in your own circles. again, never say never). What a fascinating element of personality and social interaction, so compelling yet also so vague.