Blindspot!
From Issue: 477 [Read full issue]
Cracks in the Social Mirror
When it comes to how you feel about yourself, which mirror are you looking at? There are two mirrors to choose from. One the social mirror, the other the true mirror. The social mirror is a reflection of how other people see you. The true mirror is a reflection of the real you. Looking to the social mirror is bad news for several reasons:
The social mirror is unrealistic. Somehow the media has sold everyone the lie that looks are everything. And we've bought it! Our culture proclaims that if you are good-looking, skinny, or buff, you can have it all - popularity, boyfriends, girlfriends, success, and happiness. The problem is that the images of how we're supposed to look come from movies and magazines that feature unrealistic models of perfection.
The social mirror is always changing. If your self-perception comes from how others see you, you'll never feel stable, because opinions, fads, and fashion are always changing. It's hard to keep up. You'll start to feel like Alice in Wonderland.
The social mirror isn't accurate. You are so much more than the opinions of others. You are so much more than how you look on the outside. You have beauty and potential that no one recognizes, not even you.
Beware of the social mirror.
Source:
"The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make" - Sean Covey, pp. 269-273