Take a look in the mirror and stay there. As you hold your glance, what do you see in the reflection? Look past your face and physical features and go deeper, to the whole “picture” of you. Do you like the person you see? Who are you on the inside? Do you like your values? Your choices and habits? How you relate to others?
Are your relationships meaningful and positive? What about your work? Is there passion in it? Are you doing what you’re called to? What do you base your life on? Is it your success in life? The approval you receive from others? Perhaps what God has done and is doing in your life?
Years ago, I did this exercise and found it extremely difficult. To be blunt, I did not like the reflection, at all. I could not hold my gaze and I found the exercise to be somewhat painful. I did not like who I was or what my life was about: my achievements and what other’s thought of me.
Surprisingly, this mirror work propelled to become willing and open to change. I came to a place of surrender, admittance, and confession. It was a good place to be, in order to open my heart to change. A lengthy process then ensued, one that included a fair-share of counseling, reading, journaling, praying, Bible studying, and life coaching (let me also add: crying).
I did not get changed in a day, but bit by bit, I began to experience a heart change that impacted all areas of my life. Today, as I look in the mirror, I am not completely enamored with the initial reflection of “my time spent on earth,” but as I hold the gaze, and take in the whole “picture” of me, I see something deeper in the reflection, and I like what I see.
What do you see, when you look in the mirror?
“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.” – Oscar Wilde