Prop.— The Living Experience is Rife with Illusion.

Beauty may seem unattainable or easily attainable, because it originates in the perceiving mind; therefore no one or thing is perfect or imperfect.

External influencers, such as magazines & television, imbed in us a criterion by which we come to determine beauty. With an elevated perspective, we might look closer at objects or people initially thought of as unattractive, & realize that nothing is physically ugly in & of itself.

Admittedly, I am picky. I am attracted to a symmetrical assemblage of lips, eyes, & mouth – with bodily contours that titillate. I have framed in my mind a standard where physical beauty proceeds from proportion. Is the framing all my own? Likely not. Nonetheless, whenever I see a person exceptionally large of size, I feel a little revulsed, which renews my superficiality, & extends the illusion.

Concerning myself, I feel I lack a large enough musculature. I sometimes envision myself without lanky limbs, & a torso appropriate to a Grecian athlete. With the desired physique, shirtless photos would abound in my gallery. Not to mention I'd appear more daunting with less use of photoshop.

Many people have limited involvement when their standards are configured. Perhaps it is impossible to completely extricate oneself from conditioned judgments, but I think it's meaningful to examine the intricacies of our personal standards, & to pinpoint their origins.

[These are mere outward qualities; after all, an unpleasant personality negates beauty, & a pleasant one enhances it.]


I encourage input on this subject.