Girls who are anorexic look in the mirror and see fat that isn’t there. This phenomenon applies to other people who are self-conscious about certain physical characteristics. You might think people are staring at your large nose, bald head, flabby arms, or flat chest, but they’re not. Even if you see that their eyes are aimed at your unwanted feature, it doesn’t mean they are thinking how ugly it is. They might not be thinking of it at all.
I interviewed a young lady named Kylie Williams for my book, “Facing the World.” Her face was burned when she was 14. Kids made fun of her, so she wore heavy make-up all the time. In college, even her sorority sisters never saw her without make-up. In the mirror, she saw herself as scarred as she was the day she was burned, but the truth is, her skin had healed significantly. A friend entering a local beauty contest cajoled Kylie into entering with her. Kylie ended up winning and, to make a long story short, eventually became Miss Florida 2007. A great story!
