even tho Im a male I suffer from (non-gender)body dysphoria, I feel uncomely even tho people around me will deny it if I ask. Am I under the mental ill of a dysphoria? have I became an accidental idolator of vanity? I am trying to delete all my online content and mental imaginations regarding human beauty,aesthetic appreciation,etc. I feel I should do a "no mirror challenge". I just dont know if I need a torough,further confession,or a better psychologist or some massage expert who teaches how to improve the face
One of my first steps in returning to the church was to avoid looking in mirrors. For me, I found it to be very helpful in my self perception and in my spiritual life. I also find that when I come to be aware of thoughts that are not rightly ordered I quickly say Hail Marys while requesting the removal of the predisposition to think of such thoughts. Depending on the success (and the thought) I sometimes also call on the assist of St Joseph (terror of Demons) and St Michael. When all else fails I call on Jesus and ask for his mercy and his blood to cover my sins
I could commit to avoid looking at reflections, if I conclude its the best,but can I shave without a mirror? Would the process be much more difficult? supposedly a man can just feel the hair and use the guilette. But Im afraid of ending up unkempt or with patchs. I should be clean shaven all the time, as Im in process of getting jobs.
I am not saying never look in the mirror. I am saying when you look in the mirror concentrate and only look at the task at hand. Do not spend more time than is needed in front of the mirror admiring or criticizing the shape of a brow, the tilt of a nose etc. I’m just telling you what I found helpful to me.
Before my conversion I never thought of myself as vain. I was a beautiful child and grew up into (what everyone told me, even strangers who met me on the street) a beautiful woman. My parents did their best to make sure I was not focused on that and taught me to work on my kindness and talents instead, which was good. However, as I matured I realized the power I had attracting people with my looks, and was happy I was attractive to others which was definitely vanity. . At my conversion at age 34, I instantly felt ashamed of the time I wasted worrying about my looks and what I would be if I lost them with age. I never spent hours primping or even looked in mirrors much, so my vanity was a little different than yours. It was mostly the attention I had always received JUST because of my looks, and I wondered if I had been homely if people still would like me. The odd thing is that other's looks have never attracted ME. I always felt drawn to the lonely and homely. So anyway, I learned that looks have nothing to do with our worth. I do think it is respectful to look our best for others, being as clean and tidy in our persons as is possible. So no, I don't think getting rid of mirrors is the answer, but just limit your mirror time to preparing for the day and maybe checking there is no dog slobber in your hair before going to the store LOL
While it’s good to be aware and be careful about vanity and focus too much on outward and material things, I also think it’s good and holy to take care of our bodies, including appearance. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit- it is sacred and needs to be cared for. As we read in Genesis, we are made in image of God…. So I do think we must care for both the outer appearance and certainly the spirit within us. Peace God created mankind in his image;in the image of God he created them;male and female* he created them.- Genesis I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works!- Psalms
a happy update: I started clean shaving daily, keeping care to lose the few extra weight, and general proper attire. it seems others never cared about me being beatiful,or not, at all?
