I've been thinking a lot lately about my how I see myself, and how others see me.
Personally, I've noticed that my self-esteem often depends on the mirror I'm looking through. I can remember thinking about this back in middle school. During that darkly awkward period of my life (which I think it is for pretty much anyone), I began to pick up on the impact that my reflection had on me while I was shopping for clothes. I found that in the "trendy" name-brand stores, their dressing rooms were my personal Hell. I conceived a notion eventually, that those businesses strategically planned everything about those stalls--from their width to their lighting, to play on your emotions as a shopper. I've often wondered if stores adjust the mirrors to cause consumers to look thinner than normal, or in some instances, slightly thicker. Giving a not so "fun-house" effect within the business.
Lately, I've noticed that I feel my most comfortable looking at myself in my bedroom mirror. After thinking about this, I've decided it's because no one is watching. No one is there to critique me, and I have nothing to compare myself to.
The school tends to be the hardest though.
Perhaps it's because while there I'm constantly being swarmed with petite girls who seem to have never been larger than a size 6.
Perhaps it's because I'm my harshest critic when I feel uncomfortable.
Perhaps I set my expectations too high, and my evaluation scores low.
Or maybe, my reflection is warped by my own negativity...hmmm...I haven't thought of that one before...this writing this is a pretty good idea. My mind can just roam free without impacting anyone, but myself.
Today as I was parking for work, I looked at my reflection in a window of an abandoned business. I was shocked to see that I actually didn't look that bad. My legs looked leaner, and I looked more idealistic.
The same thing happened when we went out for dinner for my brother's birthday. I looked in a store window, and I looked thinner than I thought I was. Sure enough though, as soon as I strutted up to Kumon's glass doors, my hips expanded, my height shrunk, and my ego was again crushed.
Do you think that Alice would have seen the same Wonderland had she gone through a different looking glass?
Are all mirrors created equal? I honestly have no idea. However, I do have a hunch that our reflection often depends upon our angle, our distance, and the light that is being shed during that situation.
Sometimes I wish life was black and white. With no varying options aside from those already placed before us. No paths to wander, no pitfalls to encounter. A solution for every cause, and a single action that set off only one or two events rather than a landslide of consequences.
A cake to grow larger, with an available solution, like a fan, to grow smaller once you realize how terribly uncomfortable you have become.
It always seems to be that when we find ourselves to be 3 inches just right, another person finds us to only be a wretched 3 inches tall. What does it take for us to not allow outside forces to effect our own sense of worth?
Do you think it would be harder to memorize every event in your future, or to forget every negative incident of your past?
Personally, I've noticed that my self-esteem often depends on the mirror I'm looking through. I can remember thinking about this back in middle school. During that darkly awkward period of my life (which I think it is for pretty much anyone), I began to pick up on the impact that my reflection had on me while I was shopping for clothes. I found that in the "trendy" name-brand stores, their dressing rooms were my personal Hell. I conceived a notion eventually, that those businesses strategically planned everything about those stalls--from their width to their lighting, to play on your emotions as a shopper. I've often wondered if stores adjust the mirrors to cause consumers to look thinner than normal, or in some instances, slightly thicker. Giving a not so "fun-house" effect within the business.
Lately, I've noticed that I feel my most comfortable looking at myself in my bedroom mirror. After thinking about this, I've decided it's because no one is watching. No one is there to critique me, and I have nothing to compare myself to.
The school tends to be the hardest though.
Perhaps it's because while there I'm constantly being swarmed with petite girls who seem to have never been larger than a size 6.
Perhaps it's because I'm my harshest critic when I feel uncomfortable.
Perhaps I set my expectations too high, and my evaluation scores low.
Or maybe, my reflection is warped by my own negativity...hmmm...I haven't thought of that one before...this writing this is a pretty good idea. My mind can just roam free without impacting anyone, but myself.
Today as I was parking for work, I looked at my reflection in a window of an abandoned business. I was shocked to see that I actually didn't look that bad. My legs looked leaner, and I looked more idealistic.
The same thing happened when we went out for dinner for my brother's birthday. I looked in a store window, and I looked thinner than I thought I was. Sure enough though, as soon as I strutted up to Kumon's glass doors, my hips expanded, my height shrunk, and my ego was again crushed.
Do you think that Alice would have seen the same Wonderland had she gone through a different looking glass?
Are all mirrors created equal? I honestly have no idea. However, I do have a hunch that our reflection often depends upon our angle, our distance, and the light that is being shed during that situation.
Sometimes I wish life was black and white. With no varying options aside from those already placed before us. No paths to wander, no pitfalls to encounter. A solution for every cause, and a single action that set off only one or two events rather than a landslide of consequences.
A cake to grow larger, with an available solution, like a fan, to grow smaller once you realize how terribly uncomfortable you have become.
It always seems to be that when we find ourselves to be 3 inches just right, another person finds us to only be a wretched 3 inches tall. What does it take for us to not allow outside forces to effect our own sense of worth?
Do you think it would be harder to memorize every event in your future, or to forget every negative incident of your past?
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