Why is it so difficult to keep ourselves happy?
We wanted to lose weight, and we did, great. Not enough, 5 more pounds to go – your contentment for what you accomplished is limited to seconds before you need to keep it going. You managed to make a phenomenal meal, and before you even serve it you’re already thinking about what you’ll be cooking tomorrow. Everything needs to be better, bigger, and different. It’s like we’re always competing. We are either trying to prove to ourselves that we can do better or should be better; or we are subconsciously, consciously or even unwillingly competing with others. Having standards, goals and ideals are always good; as long as they are your standards, goals and ideals.
By wishing you were taller, smarter, looked like him, walked like her, etc… you’re focusing on the qualities of others, and without realizing it you end up wishing yourself away. As the saying goes, the grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence; emphasis on seems. What you might want that others have may be just what they wish they didn’t have, or it might not be what we actually thought it was.
Nowadays it’s even more difficult to know what we want or what we choose to believe about ourselves. The media plays such a major role in how we perceive ourselves and how we look at others, that we sometimes fall victims to the many messages we are fed on a daily basis. Everywhere we look we see beautiful, almost perfect people with fabulous lifestyles – magazines, TV (another reason why I hate reality TV, it’s all scripted and staged), billboards, film… We see their airbrushed faces and bodies and think this is natural, if she can look like this then so can I. We forget the fact that we are smarter now, and we know better. We know those images aren’t real, they are pure creation. And yet we find ourselves asking why do actresses/actors always look thin, fit and ripped onscreen? Why do these famous women keep having kids and losing the baby weight instantly while I’ve been exercising my entire life and can’t manage to lose those annoying 5 extra pounds? Well, maybe it’s because “beauty” might actually come with a price. These people can afford to train daily with expert trainers, they have personal chefs that make sure their meals never surpass X amount of calories, they have plastic surgeons on speed dial, etc…
We wanted to lose weight, and we did, great. Not enough, 5 more pounds to go – your contentment for what you accomplished is limited to seconds before you need to keep it going. You managed to make a phenomenal meal, and before you even serve it you’re already thinking about what you’ll be cooking tomorrow. Everything needs to be better, bigger, and different. It’s like we’re always competing. We are either trying to prove to ourselves that we can do better or should be better; or we are subconsciously, consciously or even unwillingly competing with others. Having standards, goals and ideals are always good; as long as they are your standards, goals and ideals.
By wishing you were taller, smarter, looked like him, walked like her, etc… you’re focusing on the qualities of others, and without realizing it you end up wishing yourself away. As the saying goes, the grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence; emphasis on seems. What you might want that others have may be just what they wish they didn’t have, or it might not be what we actually thought it was.
Nowadays it’s even more difficult to know what we want or what we choose to believe about ourselves. The media plays such a major role in how we perceive ourselves and how we look at others, that we sometimes fall victims to the many messages we are fed on a daily basis. Everywhere we look we see beautiful, almost perfect people with fabulous lifestyles – magazines, TV (another reason why I hate reality TV, it’s all scripted and staged), billboards, film… We see their airbrushed faces and bodies and think this is natural, if she can look like this then so can I. We forget the fact that we are smarter now, and we know better. We know those images aren’t real, they are pure creation. And yet we find ourselves asking why do actresses/actors always look thin, fit and ripped onscreen? Why do these famous women keep having kids and losing the baby weight instantly while I’ve been exercising my entire life and can’t manage to lose those annoying 5 extra pounds? Well, maybe it’s because “beauty” might actually come with a price. These people can afford to train daily with expert trainers, they have personal chefs that make sure their meals never surpass X amount of calories, they have plastic surgeons on speed dial, etc…
Well isn’t that just lovely. Who wouldn’t want their own army of health nuts and stylists making sure we are always looking like a demi-god? And, there we go again, wanting a lifestyle completely different from our own without thinking twice about the reality of it. We forget the major sacrifices these people undergo on a regular basis.
The downside to that type of lifestyle is that one doesn’t get to command that army, the army of publicists, managers, agents, producers, directors, and even us (the masses) have more control over that person than they would like. They have so many restrictions and obligations going on that I can imagine them wanting their old lifestyles back for at least a week or two. If you think your life sucks, don’t forget that Madonna used to work at a Dunkin’ Donuts, yes now she’s the Queen of Pop, but watch “Roman Holiday” starring Audrey Hepburn again and you’ll realize that all royals (real or “fake”) have a price to pay for their titles – you might have a freedom envious of the Queen of Pop; or in that case even of the Princess of Pop (Britney Spears), a mother of two with a huge career and she still needs to be under the guardianship of her father or she might risk flying off the handle again. You never know what goes on behind closed doors, or in our day and age, you never know what happens when the camera is turned off. If you think society is putting pressure on you to look, act, or be a certain way; just try to imagine being on the other side – actually having to be the prototype of such illusions, not that much fun once you think about it huh?
The downside to that type of lifestyle is that one doesn’t get to command that army, the army of publicists, managers, agents, producers, directors, and even us (the masses) have more control over that person than they would like. They have so many restrictions and obligations going on that I can imagine them wanting their old lifestyles back for at least a week or two. If you think your life sucks, don’t forget that Madonna used to work at a Dunkin’ Donuts, yes now she’s the Queen of Pop, but watch “Roman Holiday” starring Audrey Hepburn again and you’ll realize that all royals (real or “fake”) have a price to pay for their titles – you might have a freedom envious of the Queen of Pop; or in that case even of the Princess of Pop (Britney Spears), a mother of two with a huge career and she still needs to be under the guardianship of her father or she might risk flying off the handle again. You never know what goes on behind closed doors, or in our day and age, you never know what happens when the camera is turned off. If you think society is putting pressure on you to look, act, or be a certain way; just try to imagine being on the other side – actually having to be the prototype of such illusions, not that much fun once you think about it huh?
So, why wish for someone else’s life/image when you can just try to make yours better or make yours work for you? First work with what you have, then get the facts right, and if you would still rather see yourself as a blonde then give it a try – just don’t freak out if your hair ends up turning green or if that cream that makes you burn fat faster gives your body a nasty rash. Beauty is only skin deep, don't wish or waste yours away.
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