Part 5/6:
A critical moment in this traumatic process is when an infant perceives themselves in their mother’s gaze. Recognizing oneself in another’s eyes signifies the acknowledgment of external reality and self-awareness. The gaze, serving as the external world’s mirror, solidifies the understanding that "I am not one" with the environment and the mother, but rather a separate being.
This recognition, although essential for individual consciousness, also brings a sense of alienation and the beginning of life's profound journey of navigating boundaries, identity, and the external world.