Self-image is the colllection of thoughts we have about ourselves. These thoughts are formed throughout life and stored in the brain. When we interact with the surrounding environment or with ourselves, those thoughts are brought out to respond to whatever we are facing. Depending on the situation and on the thoughts we have about ourselves, our reactions will reveal different shades of the mind—the ego.
Self-image can relate to traits, appearance, personality, actions, roles—from small details about ourselves to abstract ideas. We store in our minds what we like or dislike about ourselves, about who we are, who we should be, and from these images arise thoughts, actions, and emotions.
Self-images are part of memory; they are records. Therefore, self-image is fixed and repetitive. This means that when facing similar situations, our thoughts about them are likely to have similar content, which can lead to repeated reactions, behaviors, and emotions.
Our environment influences the thoughts we have about ourselves. Words from people around us, the books we read, the content we consume are recorded by the brain. Repeated exposure to certain information increases the likelihood that it will come up to mind first when we think about a related issue. That thought may or may not align with reality, may be true or false, useful or not, depending on the case, the movement of thought is to bring up records it deems relevant to respond to the situation we are facing.
Issues related to self-image:
Comparison
Comparison often accompanies self-image. We compare our present self with our past, our present with our future, our past with our future. We compare ourselves with others, our present with others’ past, our past with others’ present, our past with others’ past, our future with others’ future… Many actions, thoughts, and emotions that arise when we interact with ourselves or with others come with this comparison.
When reality aligns with our self-image, we have positive emotions. When reality does not align with it, we experience negative emotions. Positive feelings that come from self-image cannot be sustained forever. Clinging to positivity and trying to manufacture positive feelings from self-image creates its own problems. Being overly absorbed in self-image, whether positive or negative, makes a person’s behavior constantly self-centered.
Identity and roles
In the course of living, studying, and working, a person may construct self-images tied to what they do, their roles, titles, achievements, or interests. Attaching oneself to a role can lead to patterned behavior. Thoughts and actions may become confined within the framework of that role. Pre-programmed patterns of thinking and acting are sometimes unsuitable and can reduce flexibility, limit openness to observe the new, and hinder adaptability in life.
A person may also attach their identity to an external entity. That entity can be tangible or intangible, concrete or abstract, real or unreal. Tying one’s self-image to something creates attachment because we consider it part of ourselves. This attachment drives us to value and protect that external entity just as we would do to other self-images. If something happens to it, we may react as if it were happening to us.
Constructing beliefs about the self
Intentionally constructing positive beliefs about oneself to act in line with a desired self-image only produces the outward appearance of that image, while what we avoid still remains within. No matter how strongly we try to believe we are a certain kind of person, what naturally arises within us ultimately lies beyond the influence of belief.
Choosing a positive self-image and trying to believe in it to override a negative one. Using reasoning to convince oneself that negative self-thoughts are irrational. Do these actions truly dissolve negative self-images? Positive and negative images can coexist in thought. When positive self-image are used to deny what we dislike about ourselves, it creates inner conflict and adds complexity. Negative self-thought cannot be eliminated by trying to have more positive thoughts, nor by efforts to suppress them.
Knowledge about the self
The interpretations we remember about our personal issues help us comment on them, but to truly understand what is happening within us in the present moment, we need to set aside those interpretations and simply observe. Instead of commenting on a painting, try just looking at it. Seeing through the lens of commentary is different from simply seeing. Observation without commentary allows us to see clearly what is actually happening.
Observing self-image
We store many self-images without being aware of their existence. As a result, many thoughts quietly shape our actions and emotions, sometimes leading to unnecessary behavior. Understanding the thoughts we have about ourselves helps place self-image in its proper role.
Understanding these thoughts comes from observation. Observe not just of outward expressions, but truly recognizing the content of thoughts and the intention behind thoughts as they arise. Looking beneath the surface to understand what we truly want with those images. Understanding changes our relationship with self-image.
When we pay more attention to self-image, there may be urges to change what we see. This impulse itself is still the tendency of the mind—the ego.
Can a person live without self-image?
A person can focus on living their life without comparing themselves to others. A person can live without chasing a particular self-image just to feel good about themselves. A person can do what needs to be done or what they wants to do without attaching their identity to it.