Seeing is believing ?

When we speak about seeing we rely on our eyes for that action, just as when we speak about talking we rely on our mouth.
What happens when we look at ourselves? Do we actually see us the way we really are or is there another way of seeing that does not just belong to our eyes, but instead belongs to some translations that occur in our brain? We definitely see with our eyes but the translation of what we see depends on our brain.

When looking at our reflection in the mirror we see our image, but surely we do not see us the way other people see us. Our perspective depends on our self-esteem, on what our parents have taught us, friends or family say, society’s trending image (slim, curved etc.) and the visual angle from which we look upon. Speaking of the angle, let’s say that we are looking down at our body, due to this angle we will see and think that we have a big belly and therefore we are fat, but it is just a matter of angle and not the real size of our belly, which could be very slim in reality, but from this angle looks rather big. Sometimes, it’s not even us, since the problem is just the quality of the mirror (and they all in fact have very different qualities).

All people have the same organs, but, those organs do not look or function the same in each. Moreover, our left side and right side are not equal. This is the reason why, when a photographer takes the photo of someone, he/she always chooses the best position so that the person and what they are wearing or promoting looks its best. This includes deciding which lighting looks best, which angle is more flattering and which side reflects the right look (not forgetting countless amount of retouching that is done on each photo after it’s taken).

So, let’s just agree on the fact that we do not actually know how we look.

Take for example, people that suffer from bulimia or anorexia. When they look in the mirror they see a very obese image of themselves, when in reality they can be very thin or sometimes even just skin and bones. They may go on the scale and see the digital number of their actual weight being small but they do not believe it. Some of them even lose their lives because of it. This belongs to many complicated emotional and traumatic issues that occur in a certain stage of their life, impacting the way they perceive their own image.

To me, all plastic surgery, Botox and other promotional cosmetic products or changes are built on our lack of self-esteem and our lack of seeing ourselves the way we actually are. Wanting to look just like the super image of the super model on TV or magazines, just because in society’s eyes, and therefore in our eyes, they look perfect, while forgetting or not knowing that the model doesn’t actually look like that in her/his real life.

So, I believe that in order for us to know how we actually look, we first have to take care of ourselves, whether it is by trying to achieve as much balance in our life, or by taking care of traumas and emotional situations. This can be done using different methods such as: Bach Flowers, supplements, herbal tinctures, talking, eating right so that we won’t gain any undesired weight, exercising well so we can keep our body fit and healthy etc. while also accepting ourselves the way we are with all our pluses and minuses because what we are is great! Maybe this way we could finally feel that we look good from within and see that as well when we look at ourselves in the mirror.