Reflections

Do you ever walk by a mirror or a window, catch your own reflection, and not look at all like you thought you looked?

Not for the worse or better necessarily. Not the, “My behind looks huuu-ge!” or, the even more alarming, “I think I know her!” – but that moment of realizing that you did not recognize your reflection as your-self.

This experience is usually at the very least disorienting and can be downright unsettling (especially for me, highly prone to losing directional orientations among other things).

Psychologically there are times when we see ourselves differently too. It can feel unnerving and, or enlightening when you see yourself through a different lens, in a new context, or in consideration of newly realized elements.

In my next issue we’ll look at what it takes to be a good student of style psychology. As our first step to realizing ourselves through our style and in turn representing our true selves, I want to ask that (in the risk of portending vanity) you take any and every chance you have to look at yourself, in motion, in passing, candidly and bluntly.

When you see that person staring back from your reflection – take a moment and imagine them through the perspective a stranger’s first-impressions.

• What are your first thoughts?
• What kind of a person do they strike you as? Approachable? Sad? Angry? Determined?
• Then, what does their appearance say about them? Are they disheveled or sloppy? Well groomed? Have they outgrown their britches? Can you tell what their intentions for the day are based on how they look?

Consider this our first assignment: If you like to keep journals or progress notes – please do. If you don’t feel so inclined, I encourage you to try and put words around your impressions within your internal monologue.

It is the practice and daily incorporation of reflection that leads understanding – of ourselves and others – of style and psychology!