Mirror Mirror On The Wall!
Friday, February 24, 2017
“It is only when the mirror has not spoken to Chimpanzee in a
plain language that it thinks it looks more better than the Gorilla”
― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
Children's fairytales often provide the best insights into the meaning and the realities of life. The imagery
used in the fairytales present archetypes that reveal important life lessons.
The image of the evil stepmother in 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'
seeking validation for her beauty from the mirror is one very true example of
this. It so happens that some mirrors give us the validation we are seeking,
while others make us look hideous and we keep wondering if the mirror is
warped! 'Oh my Lord! Look at the thinness of my hair, my freckles look
bigger than usual, and those dark circles... damn!!' Mirror, mirror, am I
the fairest one of all? Asking wrong questions makes us as delusional as the
Snow White's stepmother. Sadly we keep posing the same question and keep
hunting for the right mirror in the hope that it would ultimately declare us the fairest of all!!
Mirror, Mirror, on the
wall! Who is the fairest of them all?
Mirror: You're fatty!
You're skinny! You've a million zits on those pale cheeks of yours! I don't
like your curly hair! I so hate your square face! Please consider chopping up
your potato-thick lips!
Throughout our lives, the
society works like a mirror, dictating us how we should change our looks to be
more acceptable and awakes us to our physical flaws. Ever wondered what
truly makes someone attractive?
We cannot deny the fact
that we often (very often) judge people based on their physical beauty.
Especially, our first impressions about people are majorly an outcome of our
opinion of their looks. More meaningful aspects come in later – such as their
intelligence, character, nature, any talents and overall personality. We judge
people and are judged ourselves every single second of everyday based on how we
look – tall or short, dark or fair, underweight or overweight. All these
judgments passed on us throughout the years result in shaping our self-image.
Our self-image could be positive or negative based on people’s general opinion
of us. Our view of ourselves affects our self-esteem and confidence - it
can either make us or break us!
In our beauty-obsessed
culture, where media runs advertisement campaigns with messages that convey how
dark-skinned girls should use whitening creams if they wanted to get good
marriage proposals, chances are most of us have grown up obsessing over fairer skin,
taller height, thinner physique etc. We all have, at least once in a
lifetime, been hit by low self-esteem due to beauty standards defined by the
culture we live in. So, you'll let the beauty-conscious messages portrayed in
fashion magazines, movies or on TV to get the best of you? Do you seriously
think your self-worth will decline when you grow older, as wrinkles cover your
face and your head goes bald or your hair gray? Is that more powerful than
the experience and maturity you will hold in your heart, and the love you will
feel for life? When the mirror tells you that you aren’t relevant in terms of
beauty, stare back at it and yell out 'I AM MY KIND OF BEAUTIFUL!'
This is not strictly a
she-related issue. Even men have self-image issues based on their bodies and
looks. I know men who resorted to nerve-wracking workouts, strict dietary
plans, and laxatives in an effort to shed weight or get toned. Same story,
different characters - Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the handsomest of
all!!
How about a revolt against
this mentality? A beauty revolution! Let’s change the definition of ‘beauty’!
Let’s not rely on the definition that media, showbiz or any mirror projects.
What if true beauty comes to mean who we are rather than how we look? What if the
society alters its standards to measure beauty? What if beauty starts to mean
you, with the face and the body you own? What if embracing our looks
becomes our most attractive feature? What if the society starts to accept us
with our flaws – our crooked teeth, small eyes, pimpled faces, bald heads and
flat noses? What if this is not only embraced but also celebrated?
We have spent a great
number of years dwelling on our physical imperfections and it certainly will
take a serious mental shift to see beyond that. If you are successful in
understanding the fact that a model-perfect appearance does not define the real
you, you’ll begin to shape your mind and ignite your heart with the
enlightenment of true beauty that exists within 'you'.
Our desire to look perfect
roots from our wish to be liked and accepted by others! It is quite likely that
people who love you, love you for who you are. Your parents, your spouses, your
children, your true friends – for them your physical beauty is irrelevant,
maybe non-existent, almost meaningless. Their love is not based on your
possibility to make it to a beauty pageant! For those, who would only love you
for your perfect flawless skin, Barbie-like figure and looks, you really need
not to pay any heed. Those warm familiar faces, those eyes that twinkle out of
love for you, those joyful genuine smiles passed at you, and those comforting
arms that hug you need no gate-pass of your beauty to love you. We all have our
own natural scent, inner beauty, light and a very unique character that makes
us who we are!
Stop wearing heels if they bite your feet (even if you’re a human midget like my very own cute little
charming self), stop using fairness creams; you look great in your natural tan
skin, stop starving yourself to low energy level; eat good and healthy! Relax
into your imperfections and accept them with love and kindness.
With each passing day, I
have started to redirect my focus away from dwelling too much on my appearance.
I do try to look attractive and presentable every time I step out, but I am least
obsessed with what people think of me. Instead I have shifted my focus on my
passions that help me and others grow. Know that no oils and face masks will
light up your face as much as the glow of your confidence and the knowledge of your
self-worth.
Take a good care of
yourself, and look your natural best!!
We are beautiful, we need no mirrors!! Here is to our true authentic beautiful selves!!
We are beautiful, we need no mirrors!! Here is to our true authentic beautiful selves!!
P.S My beautiful friend, the
one who often occupies some space in my blogposts (Let's name her Miss X) sent
me the following link, which became my inspiration for this post. I'm in no way
endorsing the brand (obviously they didn't pay me, so why would I?)...but I do appreciate
the thought behind this - the first step toward the beauty revolution!
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