“Who am I gonna be when it’s all over?” – Drake (Heat Of The Moment)

Mirrors are smooth surfaces made of glass usually, with reflective material on one side for the reflection of light and the formation of images. In most contexts, a mirror is used to paint a picture of soul searching or remembering.

Full-length mirrors represent introspection, looking inward, self-examination, self consciousness, and reflection. Car rearview mirrors represent retrospection; the deliberate recall of events, past actions, and regrets.

All in all, mirrors literally, figuratively and contextually reference reflection. The deliberate asking of self.

There’s a slew of opportunities every day to embark on self reflection. From self help and motivational books to fiction, art, religious guides and doctrines, pop music, social media, relationships, and the one thing that is constant in every one of us, personal evolution.

But we miss these opportunities most times.

Time fritters away.

And during reflection, we take the route of regrets.

Things we should have done. Things we shouldn’t have done. Places we could have been. People we could have been with.

But we don’t ask ourselves if we would do these same things we did if we knew what we know now. That’s what retrospection should be like.

The acknowledgment of where you were before and where you are now. But the temptation of regret runs too deep.

Reflection has to be in tune with personal evolution, maturity, deliberate observation and the acknowledgement of where you are today.

Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror

Lil Wayne – Mirror On The Wall ft. Bruno Mars

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.“
James 1:22‭-‬24 KJV

All the above mentioned are opportunities that should push to help us ask questions of ourselves. Some clearly, some subtle.

To ask yourself questions like:

Are you comfortable in your own skin? In who you are, and where you are currently on your life journey?

Are you really a good person, or do you do good to others because your religion asks you to? Or out of a sense of empathy? Or to court public opinion, maybe? Or better yet, because you’re scared of going to hell someday?

Do you hold yourself to the same standards you put other people under the microscope for? Do you still say nobody is perfect when someone wrongs you? Or does it only pertain to you when you are wrong?

Do you treat people a certain way because that’s how they should be treated? Or do you treat them in a way you’d want to be treated?

When friendship and love are on the line, are you as loyal to others the same way you demand loyalty from them? Do you let “loyalty” stand in the way of truth and happiness?

Are the principles you claim to live your life by consistent with the values you claim to have? Do your principles connect your values to your actions? Or are you just a hypocrite like the rest of us? Behaving counter to the beliefs you claim.

In striving to be understood, do you try to understand others?

Do you love yourself like you love others? Do you truly love people as you claim you do?

Are you truly satisfied with who you see when you look in the mirror? Not just satisfied with your physical looks, but satisfaction with the consistency between who you are and who every other person thinks you are.

Do you have the integrity you so much demand from others?

Who are you?

• Life
• Self Development