Scene Setting: The Post-Breakup Spiral
Adult Inse stood in front of his bathroom mirror, shirtless, examining himself with a critical eye. His stomach wasn’t as flat as it used to be. His arms weren’t sculpted. His jawline, was it less defined than before?
“No wonder she left you,” the voice of insecurity whispered. “You’re not attractive enough. You let yourself go. She probably found someone taller, leaner, better looking. And what are you doing? Playing video games and eating takeout like a loser.”
He clenched his jaw and grabbed his phone, scrolling mindlessly through Instagram. His ex had posted a picture at a rooftop party, looking radiant. The guy beside her? Tall. Chiseled. The kind of effortlessly good-looking that made Inse’s stomach turn.
“She upgraded. You? You’re just… you.”
Frustration bubbled inside him. He knew he wasn’t ugly, but in moments like this, it felt like he was competing with the whole world, and losing.
A notification popped up. Curity: “Dinner. My place. 7 PM. No excuses.”
He sighed. Curity always had a sixth sense for when he was spiraling.
A Lesson in Perception
That evening, Inse found himself in Curity’s lavish penthouse, sitting across from her in a dining room that overlooked the entire city. The table was adorned with gourmet dishes, but he barely touched his plate.
Curity twirled a fork in her pasta, watching him. “So… tell me what’s going on in that overactive brain of yours.”
Inse shrugged. “Nothing.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Oh, come on. You’re barely eating, and you look like someone just insulted your entire existence.”
He sighed. “I saw a picture of my ex today.”
Curity nodded. “Ah. And?”
Inse hesitated before mumbling, “She looked amazing. And the guy she was with? He looked like a model.”
Curity leaned back, a knowing smirk on her lips. “Let me guess. You’re now convinced that you weren’t good-looking enough for her?”
He rubbed his face. “I know it sounds stupid, but… yeah. It feels like I wasn’t enough.”
She tilted her head. “And by ‘enough,’ you mean?”
Inse exhaled sharply. “Not fit enough. Not tall enough. Not… perfect enough.”
Curity tapped her fingers on the table. “So, tell me. When you were with her, did she ever complain about your looks?”
He hesitated. “No. But maybe she just didn’t say it.”
Curity rolled her eyes. “Ah, classic insecurity logic. No proof, but still assuming the worst.”
She took a sip of wine and smirked. “Alright, time for the second transformation. Let’s turn that voice in your head into something ridiculous.”
2nd Transformation: Use the Voice of Insecurity for Amusement and Inspiration
Inse frowned. “How?”
Curity grinned. “If your insecurity about your looks had a physical form, what would it be?”
He thought for a moment before smirking. “A dramatic fashion critic from a reality show. The kind that gasps and faints when someone wears the ‘wrong’ outfit.”
Curity burst out laughing. “I love it. And what does he sound like?”
Inse straightened in his chair, then in an exaggerated, snobby voice, declared, “Oh, darling, your body is simply UNACCEPTABLE! You dare step into the world without washboard abs? Without an angular jawline carved by the gods? TRAGIC!”
Curity nearly choked on her drink, laughing. “You hear how ridiculous that sounds?”
Inse chuckled despite himself. “Yeah… it does sound stupid when I say it out loud.”
She nodded. “Because it is stupid. And now, let’s flip it, how do you actually want to feel about your body?”
He considered it. “I just want to feel good. Confident. I don’t need to look like some model; I just don’t want to feel insecure about how I look.”
Curity leaned forward. “Then that’s your real goal. Not perfection. Confidence. And what’s one step you can take to start feeling that way?”
Inse thought for a moment. “I guess… I could start working out again. Not to look perfect, but just to feel better.”
Curity smiled. “Exactly. And instead of obsessing over how you look, focus on what makes you feel good. Health, strength, energy. You’re not chasing a six-pack; you’re chasing confidence.”
A New Perspective
That night, back in his apartment, Inse didn’t check his ex’s Instagram.
Instead, he searched for a local gym.
He wasn’t aiming to become a model overnight. He wasn’t trying to “win” his breakup. He just wanted to feel good again.
And for the first time in weeks, he felt like he was moving in the right direction.
The voice of insecurity still lingered, whispering doubts. But now, when it spoke, Inse smirked and muttered, “Relax, dramatic fashion critic. I’m doing this for me.”
Key Takeaways
- Your insecurity about your looks is often exaggerated. Giving it a ridiculous persona takes away its power.
- Confidence isn’t about looking perfect, it’s about feeling good in your own skin.
- Instead of chasing an impossible ideal, focus on what makes you feel strong, healthy, and self-assured.
Inse didn’t need to be the most attractive guy in the room.
He just needed to like the guy in the mirror.
