The importance of self-image

[hkalchemy]

The image we have of ourselves is the most important thing in determining what we experience in the world. We spend our days acting out the kind of person we think we are, and eventually, as Earl Nightingale observed, we become what we think about. We experience what we are convinced is true and so, in a very real sense, we have each created ourself from our own mental image. And we can recreate ourselves from a new mental image if we choose. Whoever you are now, you have chosen it. And in a year, five years, ten years from now, you can be the same person, or you can choose again and become someone different.

[LoraleighV]

I'm in total agreement. It's along the same lines as creating your own reality, which I'm all in favor of.

Thanks for bringing it up. It's something I'm going to mull over and keep in the forefront of my mind today...

[jawillie]

WOW!!

I just finished a post in my blog about this. I have to do a total makeover.

I am on my way to starting a new business. I have had opportunities to sell it, make important connections, but I couldn't do it because I felt frumpy and frazzled.

Yes, Self-image is so important and totally ties into self-confidence.

I have a whole "makeover plan" in place.

Thanks for the post!

[DayInTheLife]

I'm going to take a different viewpoint on this one.

I think the best thing we can do is not take our self-image seriously at all. It is too easy to mistake your self-image for yourself. We all know how troublesome a negative self-image is, but even a positive one can be limiting and misleading.

What is a self-image anyway? It's just a collection of biased opinions you have of yourself, which have piled up in your brain over the years. It's just a ball of arbitrary thoughts, some good, some bad, some correct, some incorrect. It is not you.

When we cherish this little mental frankenstein and think it is who we are, we make ourselves vulnerable. We feel a need to protect this image; to add desirable things to it, and to subtract undesirable things from it. We worry it will change into something we don't like.

We attach our possessions to it, our vehicle, our clothes, our jobs, our physiques, our accomplishments, our friends... these are all impermanent things that will one day be different or gone. To define ourselves with image is a recipe for trouble.

Whenever you get an image of yourself in your head, recognize that it is just a thought, and a biased one at that. It is not something to be honored, not something to believe in.

[jawillie]

Originally Posted by DayInTheLife

I'm going to take a different viewpoint on this one.

I think the best thing we can do is not take our self-image seriously at all. It is too easy to mistake your self-image for yourself. We all know how troublesome a negative self-image is, but even a positive one can be limiting and misleading.

What is a self-image anyway? It's just a collection of biased opinions you have of yourself, which have piled up in your brain over the years. It's just a ball of arbitrary thoughts, some good, some bad, some correct, some incorrect. It is not you.

When we cherish this little mental frankenstein and think it is who we are, we make ourselves vulnerable. We feel a need to protect this image; to add desirable things to it, and to subtract undesirable things from it. We worry it will change into something we don't like.

We attach our possessions to it, our vehicle, our clothes, our jobs, our physiques, our accomplishments, our friends... these are all impermanent things that will one day be different or gone. To define ourselves with image is a recipe for trouble.

Whenever you get an image of yourself in your head, recognize that it is just a thought, and a biased one at that. It is not something to be honored, not something to believe in.

I get what you are saying.

However, I guess for me it is possible to be aware of my self-image without being "attached" to it. It is possible for me to like the cars I drive without being "attached" to them.

And, truthfully, we all have an "image" we are presenting to the world ~ whether that is one of "professional business-person" or "hippie" or anything else. We ARE constantly presenting our image of ourself to others. Aren't we?

I believe hkalchemy's blog goes into this more indepth than purely superficially, outward appearance, anyway. (I read the blog post that perhaps this thread was started as an extension of, I think).

[DayInTheLife]

However, I guess for me it is possible to be aware of my self-image without being "attached" to it.

In that case I might ask, what relevance does this image have then?

If there is something you want this image to be, or want it not to be, you are attached to it in that sense.

And, truthfully, we all have an "image" we are presenting to the world ~ whether that is one of "professional business-person" or "hippie" or anything else. We ARE constantly presenting our image of ourself to others. Aren't we?

Not necessarily. "Hippie", "Business person" or any other image are only interpretations; therefore they are functions of the observer. The image you think you are presenting will never match the one others perceive, because they will interpret it differently. Others will almost always form an image of you, but that is none of your concern. Trying to ensure that they have a particular interpretation of who you are is exhausting and pointless.

Only when you refrain from interpreting your own image can you become unattached from it. You can wear what you want, act how you want, say what you want and leave the interpretations to others.

When you do this, suddenly a thousand things that were on your mind disappear. What others think ceases to matter. There is no embarrassment or self-consciousness. No social fear or intimidation. The implications of living this way are huge, and the benefits are far greater than having even a flawless self-image.

[fwellers]

excellent posts Dayinthelife. I agree with your take on it.