“You are what you make yourself out to be,” is a saying that I have heard frequently, but didn’t quite understand until it finally clicked. Anybody seeking power, whether it be a politician, business owner, or an average day competitor, uses the essence of acting. The use of narratives and white lies allows for the powerful to entice the people surrounding them by painting themselves as a perfect person. Author of Empire of Illusion, Chris Hedges, contends that artifice is needed as a skill for success. Artifice is an essential tool in competitions where individuals have to assert their “power”, there are instances in our Presidential administration where acting is crucial, and artifice is sometimes needed to create connections.…