Well it’s Panto season.
All that ‘Mirror, Mirror On The Wall….’
So it’s an appropriate time to broach a subject that I think sums up the very essence of what this page is about.
In all aspects of daily life us men are spending more and more time in front of the mirror. Whether it be daily ablutions like shaving, cleansing, moisturising, styling hair, dressing, re-dressing… Some of this is necessary of course, I wouldn’t promote a lack of personal hygiene but surely there must be a limit to how much time spent in front of the looking glass is acceptable before it’s considered a breach of ones masculinity. Worryingly though, it’s not confined to self grooming. Everywhere it seems men are taking the opportunity to glance at themselves. Whilst shopping, at the gym, in shop windows whilst walking by, even the rear view mirror in their car!
You’ll know you do it because of the awkwardness you feel when you make eye contact with someone and you try to pretend they haven’t just caught you out…and if you don’t feel the awkwardness then your case is probably even more serious.
There’s two areas to focus on here:
How is this rise in reflection gazing perceived by others (particularly the opposite sex)? It can’t be good can it? Take a step back for a moment and question how appealing the image of modern man is that major fashion and cosmetic companies have painted and we are being brainwashed by. Are we just in danger of dancing to their tune like puppets on strings?
The other, is what effect does our obsession with how we look have on our subconscious, does it soften us the fact we seem more concerned with how we appear superficially than with who we are inside and the actions that we take? Does it betray the very thing that makes us men?
Believe in who you are and what you stand for enough that if you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror you don’t spend time either admiring yourself or critically analysing your appearance, you just accept it’s you going about your business.
This way you’ll be less ‘mirror, mirror on the wall’ and more ‘Man In The Mirror’.
ManUp 