We inhabit a culture obsessed with images of perfection, whether they be our bodies or our lifestyles.
Add to that our inclination to idealise and normalise the best of what we perceive around us and our lives become a mire of dis-satisfaction.
Altered photographs fill our media, creating a false sense of bodily perfection.
Commerce feeds the false impression that our satisfaction will flow from our next purchase.
How do we grow an image of ourselves free from harmful distortion and fruitless desire?
Do you constantly scrutinize your appearance? Is it as though you walk around with a mirror held out in front of you reminding you what is lacking? In reality, that mirror reflects a distorted perception; much like a carnival mirror that distorts reality. It not only prevents you from seeing yourself accurately, but it creates a self-focused absorption. “You” become more important than truly being known as a person. The mirror creates a wall that isolates you from others. You become enslaved to the pursuit of an ideal image and to caring too much about what others think. So the question remains: How should I view myself?
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