"In the west, it is the physical appearence of the body that contributes greatly to the sense of who you think you are: it´s strength or weakness, it´s perceived beauty or uglynessrelative to others. Many feel a diminished sense of self-worth because they perceive their body as ugly or imperfect.
Those who are identified with their good looks, physical strength or abilities, experience suffering when those attributes begin to fade and disappear, as off course they will. Their very identity that was based on them is threatened with collapse. They derive their identity from the I-thought that they erroneosly attach to the mental image or concept of their body which after all is no more than a physical form that shares the destiny of all forms - impermanance and decay."
(Eckhart Tolle)