The mirror is used for viewing oneself, but it also serves as a magnifying glass for appearance anxiety. People stand in front of the mirror daily, with urges to criticise their "shortcomings": skin not smooth enough, a body not symmetrical enough, features not delicate enough. We are always in front of the mirror, searching for perfection, while seldom does one see themselves. As a matter of fact, the mirror not only reflects our appearance but also reflects our inner judgment and anxiety about ourselves.
This anxiety about ourselves emanates from the beauty standards instilled by society and the media, and the mirror becomes a battlefield for self-examination. Standing in front of the mirror, many people magnify their inadequacies and fall into a vicious circle of self-denial. Psychological studies indicate that excessive self-examination often results in a negative self-concept, wherein people are thrust into an unrelenting belief that they are never good enough. This mentality makes the mirror no longer just a reflection of the physical but a cause of anxiety, filled with stress and restlessness.
Yet, the other side of the mirror is that it reminds us-for ourselves, to know ourselves. We need to learn how to look in the mirror and behold ourselves as we are, instead of how social standards shape us. Confronting the reality in the mirror, accepting your own uniqueness, and learning to appreciate your own strengths will gradually break the shackles of appearance anxiety.
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