Who do you see?

Summary

The article discusses personal growth and healing through self-reflection and the acknowledgment of a higher power during challenging times, emphasizing the importance of writing or artistic expression to process emotions and gain clarity.

Abstract

The article "Who do you see?" delves into the introspective journey of self-discovery and healing, particularly in the context of the pandemic's impact on our sense of certainty and control. It suggests that looking into the metaphorical mirror reveals not just physical appearances but also mental self-perceptions. The author reflects on the fragility of life and the importance of a "Higher Power" as a reference point to navigate life's uncertainties. The piece advocates for writing or drawing as therapeutic tools to externalize and understand one's emotions, leading to better well-being and personal growth. By identifying past negative experiences and their emotional impact, individuals can reshape their future and foster positive change.

Opinions

The author views a mirror as a tool for confronting both physical and mental self-perceptions, acknowledging the presence of flaws and imperfections.
The pandemic has prompted the author to think deeply about life, questioning previously held certainties and acknowledging human fragility and lack of control.
A belief in a "Higher Power" is presented as a personal reference point for understanding and dealing with life's challenges, with an emphasis on the ultimate triumph of good over evil.
The author expresses a personal struggle with verbalizing feelings but finds solace in writing, suggesting that written expression can aid in processing negative experiences and reducing stress.
Artistic expression, whether through words or images, is encouraged as a means to explore and externalize thoughts and emotions without the immediate need for solutions or answers.
Reflecting on past events and emotions is seen as a way to inform future decisions and behaviors, helping individuals avoid or change situations that negatively impact their well-being.
The article concludes with an empowering message that individuals are both in need of light (support and clarity) and are themselves a source of light (positivity and potential for growth).

Help yourself heal

A mirror can be a daunting thing, can’t it? What do I see when I look in the mirror? I see all my flaws and imperfections. These are not just the physical features that, at times, disgust me, but also my mental impressions of who I am. Both the physical and the mental impressions form who I see in the mirror, who I believe I am.

I am not sure how often you have thought more deeply about life and yourself during and because of the pandemic. I surely have. Everything that has been so certain, no longer seems that way. Things so rock solid, reliable, dependable, no longer seem that way. It has been a stark reminder of our fragility, how we are not in control of everything and that there are powers out there, far greater than humanity, that affect us.

I would be lost if I didn’t have a reference point for how those things occur, or how we deal with them. For me it is having a “Higher Power” and understanding that this is the realm of good verses evil. Good will provail. Now for some that may seem crazy and/or they have other reference points. All are acceptable. What is yours? Don’t have one, then find one. Find a way to unburden yourself from those things that you have no control over. Focus only then on the things that you have control over. In the end I am not in control of what people see or think of me. I am only in control of what I see myself to be.

I have found that writing can help me process what I have gone through in order to help me understand and be able to move forward. I struggle to express out loud my feelings and emotions, but I can readily give it a voice on a page. Research has shown that writing about negative events can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, bring greater focus and clarity, and boost overall well-being. If words fail you or don’t come easily then a picture will do.

Spend some time writing words, phrases or drawing what comes into your mind. Link them to how you are thinking. Remember you are not looking for answers or solutions, just write it down. Getting it out there really does work. In time you can then move to reflection. Look back, group things together. In those thoughts and expressions are the links to how you felt about things that happened to you.

How can this help? By identifying how you felt, what happened to make you feel that way, will help you form your future. If you felt bad by being in a certain situation, then work out how not to be in those situations again, or how you can change those situations if you can’t avoid them. This may be work, personal circumstances, addiction, etc. Unearth what is within you. Shed the things that hold you back. Allow the light onto the seedlings that need to grow in you. They need the light.

When you look in the mirror, do not be surprised at what you see as you own that. If you feel positive then let it flourish, though if you need to address something then find that help.

You need the light, you are the light.