When you stand in front of the mirror, getting ready for the day, adjusting your outfit and getting just the right look, “what are the thoughts that run in your mind?” With strands of gray hair showing, we run to apply the hair dyes. We hit the gym or adopt fitness routines as soon as some of the curves start showing. We get our eyebrows tweezed before it gets out of shape. We make sure our clothes are ironed to perfection, shoes are in perfect condition, before stepping out of the house. We put in loads of efforts in our outer appearance, so that people see us how we want them to see us.
The question that arises in my mind is, “is it enough to just focus on how we look on the outside?” “What about, how we look on the inside?” Just because no one can see it in a three dimension format, it doesn’t mean we can ignore it. If you are stressed in the morning, do you sit silently, figuring it out what is causing the stress, before stepping out? Do you address and straighten out that wrinkle of the feeling causing the stress? If you are angry at something, do you give yourself time to cool it down before lashing it out? All the emotions of fear, frustration, sadness are carried with you through out the day. “Do they not need your attention as much as the outside appearance do?”
A time comes, when all these inner unaddressed looks and feelings dictate how you appear on the outside as well. It is then, we start looking for help, externally again! Reassurances, validations to make this ‘inner being’ come back to normal. And, it is way too late when we realize, that the facade on the surface won’t help.
A tip: “Let us keep it simple.” Along with picking out what looks best “on you”, also choose what feels best “in you.”
