Asymmetries
At first, most people have an exaggerated perception of the asymmetries. It is largely an illusion due to head tilting and the picture you have in your mind versus the picture others have of you. If your nose turns 1° to the left, it is turning 1° to the right in a traditional mirror as you have always seen.
However, your nose is ending up in a spot that is 2° different from what you are used to see when looking for the first time in the NRI mirror. It is the same for the head tilt, the one-higher-shoulder, the one-higher-or-bigger-eye and the sides of the mouth’s different shapes, turning up or down.
Our asymmetries are usually tiny, a few millimeters (mm), but because most people in western societies have a heightened awareness of their traditional mirror image, these ‘mm’ seem very apparent during the first few viewings in the NRI mirror.
Over a short time, with exposure to your non-reversed image, this image will become more and more normal, and less and less startlingly asymmetrical. Most people who allow themselves the time to get used to it actually end up preferring it. Your image is friendlier, more normal, and predictable. It is, after all, just “you” that you are seeing.
Is it the real-image?
If you have someone who knows you well stand closely next to you and look at your NRI mirror reflection, they will confirm that yes, this is the way you appear. They will not see the exaggerated asymmetries you see, and not even see your actual asymmetries.
What they will see, and which you can finally see also, is the real individual that you are: your expressions, personalities, and real emotions all intact. This can be very valuable to you in understanding your interpersonal relations. Just how do you come across to others?
