VANITY - THE DISTORTED MIRROR

Vanity has proverbially been associated with women, while its equally destructive male counterpart is conceit. These two characteristics, together with their inherent indolence of spirit can be thought of as one malady: A malady which has brought pain and ruin upon many a human being.

But what is vanity? How does it reveal itself? What are its origins? Who is responsible? Is there a cure?

The Disease that Is Vanity: In its critical state, only those directly under the influence of vanity are incapable of clearly recognizing their affliction. Often these individuals are surrounded by one or more persons who consciously or unconsciously conspire - for their own advantage - to nourish the other's distorted self-image.

In order to complete the tragicomic picture, there must be added the multitude of unsuspecting others, who will be disappointed when they approach these vain and deceptive people with higher expectations. To maintain their own self-respect, these newly disappointed ones are then obliged to withdraw; that is, if they themselves hold no evil intentions. Even then these "ignorant ones" are not to be freely permitted to leave unscathed, since even the critic feeds vanity and conceit better than unconscious revulsion, pity or silent contempt. And as for those who will develop an evil intent for the death of their own unrealistic expectations, the vain and conceited are always easy targets to blame.

When something is vain, it does not yield the desired outcome. It lacks true substance or inner worth. The conceited are well-known for holding too high an opinion of themselves. An opinion which, when placed under in-depth or spiritual scrutiny, always displays obvious flaws and quickly begins to crumble.

The most revealing instant for those suffering under the delusion of vanity or conceit is, then, when they are finally confronted with the truth. How willing is the individual honestly to consider that reality may indeed be other than he had so far believed? Thus begins the dawn of humility, the true anathema to vanity and conceit.

A Misuse of the Mirror: A story relating and symbolizing the devastating effects of vanity is the well-known fairy tale, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" by the Brothers Grimm.

The step-mother queen in the story was very beautiful, but she was so proud and vain, (perhaps also under so much pressure from her society) that she could not endure that anyone

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Society and the pressure to be beautiful?
We want to hear your view. Write now!