While considering our looks we never think of the organs that actually make us live without giving a thought to our judgments on our physical appearance. They just strive to do what they are designed to do- keeping us healthily alive.
Physical attributes such as body shape, structure, height, skin color, density of hair on the head, facial shape, and other such traits of a human being are the fusion of genetics of one’s parents. So also a few attributes, and behavioral patterns. However, one’s physical self-concept makes or breaks her/him. Self-concept about one’s body, the awareness about one’s own physical self. The physical self-concept is just one constituent of the Self Concept that projects one’s idea about own self. It is about an individual’s belief about their own self including the person’s attributes and who and what the self is; the totality of an individual’s thoughts and feelings. It is about how an individual perceives their own behaviors, abilities, and unique characteristics. Made up of one’s self-schemas, Self-concept is the knowledge about own self, including beliefs about own personality traits, physical characteristics, abilities, values, goals roles, etc.
I am tall, I am short, I have a dark complexion, I am fair, I am thin, I am thick, I am lanky, I am strong, I am bald, I am handsome or beautiful, I have an oval face, I have a diamond face. I have thick hair. I am average, I am ugly like impressions on physical attributes define a side of our physical self-concept. I would have preferred a bit longer legs, I have short legs, I have long hands, and my nose does not sit well on my face. My ears are too large, my lips should have been more curvy and pronounced, would have preferred a flat tummy. My body curve does not suit me, I should have large eyes. My eyes are not that dark, etc. are our take on our physical appearance. While considering our looks we never think of the organs that actually make us live without giving a thought to our judgments on our physical appearance. They just strive to do what they are designed to do- keeping us healthily alive.
Many people dole out exorbitant amounts to do a nose job, eye job, or lip job or alter the shape of a body part/s to reinvent their look. Does the look matter if there is not a healthy body there to support it? Would one ever enjoy this recalibration of physical appearance by being sick inside?
The physical self-concept is not just about the appearance of making the body, its organs, and its systems fit and healthy. It also includes one’s perception or evaluation of own physical ability and physical strength that form the basis of physical wellness.
Evaluation of own physical self-concept is the first stepping stone towards working to achieve one’s physical wellness.