What is YOUR Mirror Reflecting?
by
We all enter this world as a beautiful, unshaped, and wonderfully open spirit. A blank screen of sorts, emotionally unaffected by prior experiences and with a liberating absence of preconceived notions, we know no limits to our personal potential, value – or worth.
For those of us who are told (and shown!) that we are smart, beautiful, and/or precious, our self image becomes positive, proud and filled with self-esteem.
Conversely, if we are ignored, under-parented, criticized, or told that we are bad, the result is a self that is filled with shame, we feel unworthy, and tend to focus excessively on our failures.
In essence, to a child, the outside world is a “mirror,” and the interactions and feedback we receive from others becomes reflected back in the form of our developing self image, an image that eventually becomes the foundation for our adult identity, self-esteem, and our perceptions of self worth.
As a child, our mirror is the world of influential, primary people around us. As an adult, our mirror is the relationship that we have with our self!
Whether we have had good or bad experiences relative to our early years, these formative life experiences become internalized, and are readily repeated within our self. In the form of our internal dialogue, our beliefs about our self, and our self image, internalized experiences become the driving force that influences how we will treat our self as an adult.
Just as a child who is constantly being ridiculed, told that they are no good, and/or is criticized for perceived imperfections becomes crippled by low self esteem and a debilitating lack of confidence, the same is true for ADULTS who perpetuate negative, unloving, harsh and, ultimately, sabotaging internal dialogue.
So, whether you are replaying old, unhealthy tapes from the past OR you are treating your self currently in an unloving, unsupportive, devaluing and toxic manner, negative internal dialogue will undermine your current attempts to change!
Regardless of what has been mirrored in the past, it is imperative that you create a new mirror, which is positive and loving, kind and supportive, and emphasizes (often!) your unique and special traits.
We DO have the power to change our self image. And an empowered, confident and strong self image will help to support you in achieving lasting change!
