i-Teen-Man in the Mirror

Most people think guys have it all under control. They don’t care what others think, and they get dressed in the morning five times quicker than girls because their appearance doesn’t matter to them.

But on the contrary to these assumed opinions, many guys are fairly insecure about their self-image, and in fact, spend a majority of their time looking in the mirror and giving themselves self-criticism on their body types. For a guy, there are other factors in their lives that may present challenges.

Guys can feel insecure about the changes that are going on with them during their teen years and often feel too uncomfortable to talk with someone about their questions and concerns. Some guys have a hard time during puberty because they have false expectations about how they will develop during this time. They may expect to lose a lot of weight, or easily build up muscle mass.

While it is true that most boys mature during their teen years, it is also true they may not mature as much as they had hoped. One of the best ways to get an idea of how you will develop is by looking at your relatives. For some this is unfortunate.

Some guys have difficulty accepting the rate at which their friends are maturing in comparison with themselves, just like girls do. It’s totally normally to compare yourself to others. It’s the way we evaluate ourselves and gain our self-confidence. For some this may not be the case, but generally we all compare ourselves to the people around us.

It may have been that only girls were expected to judge themselves before a mirror, constantly conscious of their appearance, but with the growing expectations of men, boys are growing insecure.

Many of the people we see on TV and in the magazines are airbrushed, digitally altered, and specially made to look like the ultimate figure. Find your strengths, not your weaknesses. If you find that you would like to improve yourself, by all means begin an exercise program, or join a sport, but don’t become a sell-out. Don’t become obsessed with becoming something you were never meant to be. Focus on the man who is already in the mirror.