Vanity-Social Veneer    

Pride in ones’ appearance and personal grooming are healthy signs of a good self image. Keeping an interest in fashion and trends makes everyday living fun and enjoyable. 

Where it goes all pear shaped is when these things become obsessions.  

Humans are a visual animal; so we do make a lot of our judgments by what we see. Our totally commercial based society has preyed on this fact. We are constantly being bombarded with images, and articles, about how we should look / dress /act.  

All of this is so that we may appear successful or acceptable in other peoples eyes. And make a lot of money for the fashion / cosmetic / health industries. 

It has absolutely nothing to do with how you feel about yourself; even though a good sense of self worth, and individuality, is very important for mental health.

What is damaging is the peer, or social, pressure to conform in a certain way. Being judged mostly on how you look, or what you own, begins to erode your sense of value as an actual person; and who you are. You focus totally on how other people see you.

Everyone wants to be loved and accepted. This should be for who we are; not just our image.

 Jealousy or envy; if you are unable to afford the current image, breeds low self esteem.

Spending money you can ill afford, or acts of theft and violence, to keep up appearances can result.

Having the money to get whatever you want simply raises the stakes. Extreme measures get taken to obtain an illussionary perfect shape.

  The human species has a very large and varied gene base. People come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes.

Perpetual youth, and certain body types, are what are portrayed as the ideal human form.

Keeping fit and active to maintain vitality makes common sense. Dieting,drugs, or surgery to obtain someone elses’ ideal of how you should look shows how little value we are actually placing on ourselves as a person.

Image and personal identity  are totally different things. Many people are unable to distinguish beween the two which is where they get trapped in the vanity cycle.

Once the image mentality takes over the tendency to be critical, and judgmental of yourself and others is the norm. If you are unable to live up to either your own, or others expectations, the gradual reduction of your self esteem begins.

A sense of personal identity is understanding that you are what is important. How you feel about yourself is the only thing that really matters. This may sound like it is totally self centred; but in reality it is the opposite.

When you are firmly grounded in yourself the ego gets subdued. There is no need for conceit or judgment. You accept yourself and all others as they are.

These people will not need to project any sort of superficial image.Inner acceptance brings a beauty all of its own which cannot be faked.

In a shallow and superficial society little value is placed on  who you really are, or what you think.

What have been your experiences with keeping up appearances?

Have you ever felt like an object rather than a person?

Have you faced discrimination because of how you are?