When you look into the mirror, what do you see?
Do you see yourself as wonderful and beautiful or does the pain of
dissatisfaction obstruct your vision? Do you see a self that is not pretty
enough? Do you see a self that isn’t young enough? Do you reject what you see
because it isn’t a food-deprived runway model?
Socialization invades the deepest part of you by distorting your self-image and
negating your self-perception. Don’t give it that much power!
Pray for the light to see your sacred self, one that is strong enough to reject the
traps of social expectations. You will see that you are so much more than the
superficial images portrayed as a false standard of beauty.
You will then see that that which is truly beautiful about you is invisible to the
eye.
Reason: 59 Page: 77 From: Kiss your Life By: Dr. Ann Mody Lewis, Ph. D
Commentary
Do you believe that “seeing is believing? “If you do, then ask yourself: Why does seeing images of yourself make it so difficult to approve of yourself?”
Men and women are saturated with images of what they are suppose to look like. Women idealize being thin, young and beautiful. Men idealize being tall, muscular and arrogant. Images of a ‘desirable person’ is who we want-to-see when we look at ourselves. This internalization of a ‘perfect self’ makes it hard for us to accept and cherish our ‘real-self’. The ‘perfect-self’ never ages, gains weight and remains attractive at all times. It is this unattable ideal that makes being ‘real’ at an age, really hard!
Not looking at ourselves can become a way of protecting ourselves from self-disappointment, criticism, embarrassment and shame. You may resist having your picture taken, wearing a bathing suit or making love when your lover can see your body.
Programs of self-correct abound in medicine, physical conditioning and psychology. They promise a love-affair with who you are.
“You will be happy.”
“You will feel free.”
“You will attract the person you desire.”
“You will be admired.”
Promises to be a better YOU attract the vulnerable, the uncertain and confused believers of gender normalcy.
The hardest challenge men and women face today is ‘loving who they are.’ Self-acceptance is not an invitation to complacency, it is granting ourselves the unconditional love and respect we deserve.
