Do you think we ever see ourselves as we really are?

I think we get to see ourselves as others would on video. Usually, at family gatherings etc. I get to hold the video camera- he he.. But occasionally, if I leave it unattended for a moment, you can bet your life that somebody picks it up and I appear on it! Looks nothing like me at all! Far more distorted than still photos.. Well I say distorted - there must be something wrong with the lense of lighting conditions where I'm standing! And I only just signed up to youtube! Probably make one of those videos where I don't appear on it. In a mirror I guess that most of us see what we want to see of ourselves. I think I do anyway. I grew quite accustomed to listening to my own voice, because I have made so many cassette tapes and now CDs over the years for my clients, I just tend to think it is somebody else anyway. BTW, I have also got a webcam here that I think I used once.. That definitely has a fault! All my hair appears grey! LOL

Do you know funny how you are bringing this up lol The Voice that comes back to me from the Videos is not how I hear it lol as for the Photos well I am not to sure lol never taken notice of that

Nope! LOL And I am so glad that I don't see or hear myself as I really am. Because any recording I hear of myself...I don't like. And many many pictures of myself, I don't like either. Heck, I don't even like this picture I use as my avatar. So, I would hate to see me as others see me all the time. Because if I did...I would probably never leave the house again. LOL

I know I don't when I here myself on tape my accent sounds really strong and when I look in the mirror there is some old lady looking me!!! LOL

Looks mean little in the grand scheme of things. What you know of yourself from the inside is what really matters. Looks are often deceiving, but feelings and emotions are not. What does it matter how others see us? It is how we see ourselves, in our mind's eye and in our hearts, that make the difference. The inner will always determine the outer. As you understand yourself from within, the world will look that way to you. How others see you is of no concern. To change for the sake of others is to give up your freedom.

I think we all have preconceived notions of how we are...the very first time I heard my taped voice I nearly fainted...like gosh, do I sound like that...to my ears my voice sounds lower, but on tape it's higher, almost like a kids voice...yikes...Same thing if I catch a glimpse of me in a mirror...another yikes--I mean maybe at that particular moment I might be tired so when I see myself in a mirror it's like, "gosh, I look old.." LOL Yet people keep telling me I don't look my age...that I could pass for my thirties (I'm 51)--If this is the case then they must seeing a better version of me than what I think of me...LOL..

I don't think alot of us ever see who we really are. I am always judging myself by the way I sound and look. I talk really country and my voice even sounds that way on an answering machine. I have also been told that I was not pretty and I am not worthy of much so I got to believing it. Every time I look in themirror, I hate what I see because I have been told negative things about myself all of my life. I know I am worthy and I know I am not fat nor ugly but I just cannot get my self esteem built up enough to accept it.

I do not think so. I know that the first time I heard my voice on tape I was amazed at the difference in the way I sounded. I was certain that it could not be me. It was the same thing when I was recorded singing for the first time, and still sometimes, I am surprised at how I sound when I record a song. My pictures are also very different from how I perceive myself to look. I may be dressed nicely and someone takes a picture and I cannot believe how horrible I look, or the opposite could also be true. Videos will give you the best perception of how others see you, but those candid shots when you do not realize that someone is filming you are the ones that count. I have been caught off guard on some of those at family reunions and such, and it is hard to believe sometimes that others really see us this way.

I think everyone see us differently, including ourselves, so i'm not sure there is a single view of ourselves for anyone, including oursevles to see, if that makes sense! We all have our own interpretations of things. I though i should add that our voices don't sound accurate when recorded on a tape, but they should sound accurate when recorded using proper recording equipment. I was suprised to hear that i do actually sound as good as i hear myself in my head after having heard my voice properly recorded1

What an excellant topic you brought up. Someone once said and has been quoted often that there are three of each of us- the way we see ourselves is one, The way others see us is two. and the way we really are is three. Well We are organic so I doubt if number three is anything but fluid. We are all so complex that we behave differently given certain stimulii than we do given other "triggers". But through quiet time and reflection, journaling and meditation we do get to know ourselves and develope a consciousness of our core. So that we are in control of what things we react to, and how. It is possible to have some control over how others see us- in the sense of grooming, carriage, and so on, but the more important thing is that our feelings are visible but not oalways easy for others to interpret- so that they are only taking a quick glance of what the camera records- dimensions, etc, but a stronger perception of what our expressions and movements reveal about our emotions. That's what people see. what they make of it is all about who they are, not who we are. So a compassionate insightful person will see you in a generous even forgiving light, while a suspicious person will see you at the same time but imagine cause for suspicion. So much of what we see when we see another is a reflection of ourselves- but even that is loaded with unconscious detail. This is why it is so important to have alot of contact with people who love you, and a little as possible with those who don't. I know this was long and usually lengthy responses tend to warrant a quick skim, but I hope you read it.

I think a true gift would be to see ourselves as others see us. Because no we dont see waht others see. They way you act and treat people really effects the way that they "see" you. Things that can't be seen effect how people prerceive you.

hey ,my friend i totally agree with you. i like record my voice and then listen ,i really find that it is different from what i hear from my head . and also ,when i see the photo i take ,sometimes it seems like it is not me .it is much different from what i see from my mirror. so i agree with you, i have the same feeling. thank you for asking ,ESKARENA1.

The question should be; "Do we really hear ourselves as we sound?" The first time I heard my voice on a tape I shocked and alarmed. I had thought my voice sounded like those movie star voices you hear on TV. But after hearing my voice on tape, I began to practice phonetics. Glad to say I don't sound too awful anymore.

I HATE to heat my "real" voice!! I can't stand it! Seriously! People told me before there's nothing wrong with it, but I still think it's the most horrible voice ever! Well, back on topic, I think there's not a definition for what we really are. Every person will see us according to their own tastes, and under their own perspective. So, there's not only one version of ourselves. I don't know if I sound crazy, but that's what I think. We'll never be able to see what we really are, because there's not only one "real us".