Mirror effect

Life gives us many mirrors, through friendships, family, and everyday encounters. These mirrors reflect parts of us, but they don’t always reflect the whole truth. Sometimes, what we see is distorted, shaped by our own projections, fears, or old wounds. At other times, it’s blurred by someone else’s shadow, their judgments, or unhealed pain. Even so, mirrors carry value. They show us what’s active inside, whether it’s truth or illusion. And if we’re willing to sit with what’s reflected, we begin to understand ourselves more deeply.

Deep relationships magnify the mirror. The closer we get to someone, the more exposed we become, not only to love and joy, but also to our insecurities, our habits, and the parts of us we’ve kept hidden. Sometimes, what rises to the surface isn’t new at all, it’s just what’s been quietly living in the shadow. The shadow is part of us, too. Growth doesn’t mean rejecting who we were; it means meeting more of ourselves with honesty and compassion. It means learning to discern what’s truly ours, and what we’ve absorbed from others.

The mirror shows us something, but what we do with that reflection is up to us. We can turn away in discomfort, or we can look closer with curiosity. We can defend, or we can ask: What is this teaching me? Growth is a choice, not a performance, not perfection. It’s the daily practice of showing up for ourselves, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s the willingness to say: This, too, is me. And I am still becoming.