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Today's
Meditation:
Vanity is
difficult to talk about, because of course one doesn't
want to point fingers and say, "You're vain and you
need to change!" Vanity is a trait best left to
the self to combat, and one should decide to combat it
because it's proving to be damaging to them in some way,
somehow. To me, vanity is dangerous because it
closes so many doors that may lead to wonderful places,
and it keeps people focused on what other people think of
them rather than defining for themselves what's good and
important.
If
I'm vain, there are so many things that I'll never do
because I have an image that I want-- or probably need--
to
maintain. That kind of image is not a great
motivating factor, for it keeps us focused outwardly,
concerned mostly about what other people see, and we try
to make sure we are what we think they want to see rather
than our authentic selves. If I'm authentic with
others, then I'm living my life as I think it should be,
and I'm not doing things simply to maintain an image that
is nothing more than an illusion. Wearing clothes of
certain brand names only is not authentic-- it's a behavior
born of the desire to impress others.
When
our vanity controls us, it leads to decisions based on
outside forces. I don't want to be worrying
constantly about what other people think of me. I
want to be my authentic self and let people do what they
will with that. If I try to create an image that I
want others to believe I am, then I'm setting myself up
for a very difficult and painful fall when I realize that
the image truly is just an illusion that I've tried to
create in order to deal with my insecurities.
We
want others not to be vain because we don't want them to
put themselves in harmful situations, and we understand
what happens when false images crumble. Sometimes,
though, it's important to look at ourselves and ask
ourselves if we, too, may be creating and maintaining
illusions based on a desire to see ourselves in a more
positive light. And if we are, then we probably
should do something about it, shouldn't we?
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