Mirror

I think one of the hardest things for people to do is look in the mirror. You’d think it’s a simple task - just stand up and open your eyes — but to me, it goes much deeper than that. It’s not really about the mirror itself; it’s about what’s behind it. It’s about asking, what am I actually looking at?

I’ve recently realized how difficult that is for people, and it was difficult for me too. I’m better at it now than I’ve ever been, but it wasn’t easy getting here. For a long time, I didn’t handle criticism well or enjoy hearing about myself from others. I genuinely thought I was perfect. I had the mindset of “it’s you, not me,” “I’m not the problem,” and “there’s nothing I need to work on.” But that just isn’t true, and it’s incredibly unhealthy.

What you don’t realize when you think that way is that you’re not just hurting yourself; you’re hurting the people around you. That isn’t fair to anyone. Looking at yourself honestly is uncomfortable, but it’s vital for growth, self-learning, and healing. It’s how you become a better person, not just for yourself, but for the people in your life that you care about.

When we refuse to see our flaws, understand them, and work on fixing them, everything around us starts to break down. People begin questioning everything and wondering, Is it me? What’s going on with you? The whole time, the real issue is that I wasn’t willing to look at myself in the mirror and take accountability.

That accountability can stem from anything, but it’s the most important work you can do. I do it every day. I talk to myself every day, not because I’m mean to myself, but because it matters to me. It’s how I’ve learned to put out the best version of myself, or at least a better version than before.

I know I’m not fully who I want to be yet, deep down at my core, but I don’t think anyone really is, especially at 24. I like to think of myself as a Butterfly; they are a huge symbol for where I am now and where I am headed. Still, who I am right now is the best I’ve ever been. I understand life more. I understand how I want my life to work, how I want people in my life to treat me, and how I want to show up for others in my adult life.

And it all starts again with looking in the mirror and asking: Who do I want to be? How do I want people to know me? How do I want to be seen? How do I want my life to go? Because I’m in control of that. I’m in control of how my life unfolds.

I know people will always think or see whatever they want - and that’s true for me too. But when you’re truly comfortable in your own skin and with who you are, that’s all that really matters. At least to me.

I look in the mirror now with no fear and no questions. I know I’m better than I was yesterday, and I know I can be even greater than I am today. And in time, I will be.