{"id":17923,"date":"2024-09-11T18:55:21","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T18:55:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shop-cili.com\/?p=17923"},"modified":"2024-09-11T18:55:21","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T18:55:21","slug":"try-this-eye-opening-4-step-exercise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shop-cili.com\/?p=17923","title":{"rendered":"Try This Eye-Opening 4-Step Exercise"},"content":{"rendered":"


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When we move in harmony with our true design, we experience comfort, but when we believe things about our bodies that aren\u2019t true, we experience discomfort. Many false ideas and concepts about our bodies are foisted on us by the fashion and cosmetic industries.<\/p>\n

Bears don\u2019t look in the mirror, and they don\u2019t worry about being fashionable. They just move naturally in accordance with their design. Our \u201ccivilized\u201d customs and concerns about our appearance prevent us from moving naturally and freely. Many of us have been bamboozled by the fashion industry into identifying so much with our appearance that we lose touch with our actual body, with its true design, and therefore with our true nature. As Virginia Woolf observed, \u201cThe eyes of others are our prisons; their thoughts our cages.\u201d<\/p>\n

We\u2019re all affected by what we call the cosmetic self. Cosmetic<\/em> means \u201caffecting only the appearance of something rather than its substance.\u201d The cosmetic self is concerned with the body primarily in terms of its appearance to others. It\u2019s our superficial body, the one we try to make look good when we look in the mirror. In moderation, attending to how we look is healthy and can contribute to our well-being. The problem arises when preoccupation with our cosmetic self interferes with the comfortable occupation of our real, biological body.<\/p>\n

The cover of almost every women\u2019s magazine highlights at least one physical flaw (usually abs, buttocks or breasts), one technique for being better in bed (drive him wild, make him your slave), and features a model or celebrity with perfect hair, makeup and cleavage. The cover of most men\u2019s magazines also highlights at least one body flaw (usually abs, biceps, AKA \u201cguns,\u201d or pecs), and one deficit in sexual performance, while featuring a \u201cshredded\u201d model or celebrity with six-pack abs.<\/p>\n

One popular men\u2019s magazine recently led with the cover story \u201cLast Longer in Bed\u201d in one issue and with \u201cThe Art of the Quickie\u201d in the next. All this is done to stir feelings of insecurity and unlovability and to sell something that will solve our imaginary problems.<\/p>\n

The cosmetic self can also extend beyond the body. We may project it onto our car, our big house or our manicured lawn. All the stuff we can buy, like clothes, watches, perfumes\/colognes, shoes, jewellery, makeup and hairstyles, can all become part of our cosmetic self. Beautiful cars, spacious houses and stylish shoes can all contribute to a good life. The problem stems from overidentifying with these things.<\/p>\n

Feelings of inadequacy, and sometimes dysmorphia, arise when we compare ourselves to the airbrushed, photoshopped, idealized illusory images of what we\u2019re supposed to look like, or the things we\u2019re supposed to have, that media bombard us with from all sides.<\/p>\n

Comfort over consumerism?<\/h2>\n
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This addiction to the superficial is driven by consumerism\u2014\u201cthe social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.\u201d The cosmetic self is a symptom of consumerism gone mad. In 1928 columnist Robert Quillen defined the uniquely American expression as \u201cusing money you haven\u2019t earned to buy things you don\u2019t need to impress people you don\u2019t like.\u201d<\/p>\n

The good news is that the trend in the post-pandemic fashion world is towards a much greater emphasis on comfort. A recent article in Forbes<\/em> reported that more than 80 percent of people surveyed stated that comfort was more important than style, status or cost in choosing their clothing.<\/p>\n

Fashion executive Sarah Davies told Forbes<\/em>, \u201cComfort has become key for people over the past year and people are breaking free from restrictions and the stress of choosing what clothes they feel they should be wearing. This change in fashion goes hand in hand with people investing more time in their own self-care and wellness.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cOf course, people still want to look well turned out but they have gained confidence to decide on products they feel good in and like wearing. Comfort is the new luxury.\u201d<\/p>\n

The article also quoted style coach Loulou Storey, who said, \u201cYou can look good but not feel great, however, if you always feel great I believe you will always look good.\u201d She added, \u201cFeeling at peace with our bodies and comfortable in our own skin is key. Our clothes should allow us to move and flow through life with ease, not fight against who we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though style is trending in a healthier, more comfortable direction, many of us have internalized the constraints reflected in the heels, ties, corsets and collars of yesteryear. Albert Einstein was notorious for his disregard of the fashion norms of his day. He is said to have quipped, \u201cOnce you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy.\u201d <\/p>\n

Walking well: Try this 4-step exercise<\/h2>\n
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