The Mirror

Every experience is a teacher. Every person who passes through our lives is there to give us the gift of themselves. They mirror something for us so we can better understand how we take our place in the universe.

I realized recently how I have always seen the mirrors of the negatives but rarely the mirrors of the wonderfulness of me. Do you allow for the idea that the friends you hold dear for their admirable qualities of kindness and compassion, humor and love are mirroring those qualities in you? We all have this ability and this gift . . . any time we allow it. This isn’t pride or ego. It is simply recognition of who we are.

When I choose to look only at the things that are “wrong with me” that is ego. It is saying; “Look at me, how bad I am. Notice me, please!” If I can’t be all the things I think I should be, at least I’m so bad I deserve attention, even if it’s negative attention. That may be a bit of an exaggeration but it makes the point.

There it is . . . a craving for attention that is common in people with self esteem issues. It is amazing how many successful and well adjusted people have a place inside where they hold fear that someone will find out they aren’t as good as they appear to be. The thing is we all are as “good” and as “bad” as we think we are. All of that is simply judgment. This is where the problem really is. We judge ourselves based on some old rules created by our cultural environment long ago.

We are coming into a time of new understanding and can now let go of those old rules and judgments. They no longer serve us. So, as we begin to open up to the process, the universe sends us wonderful people to mirror for us so we can clearly see who we are.

The most beautiful mirrors are the ones we may at first reject because they make us uncomfortable. They are the people who love us unconditionally, for no reason at all. We may have become quite good at loving others unconditionally. To love is the greatest gift of all and it becomes quite nice to love and release others without judgment. It feels quite good. Then comes the challenge, allowing someone else to do the same for us. That’s quite a different story, especially when we don’t recall having the experience before. Most of us weren’t raised that way . . . because our parents weren’t raised that way and theirs weren’t and theirs and on and on back it goes.

Well my friends; accept the challenge. Sit back, take a deep breath and feel that love. Allow love to bath you in its healing light. Allow yourself to gratefully accept the gift being offered. Just say ‘Thank you” and feel the love in you grow like the Grinch’s heart.

You are all that and more. Breathe it in. Know you are God also and open to your sacred place in the Universal Consciousness. Know, we are that mirror to others as well. We don’t set out to be. We can’t decide to be. We just are. We don’t even have control over how others perceive us. Just be who you are. Live the love that you are and breathe. It’s all in the breath . . . and the gratitude.

A Little Ordinary Magic

Have you smiled yet today?

This may sound corny but it works. If you smile in the morning as you are getting out of bed, choosing your clothes for the day, showering, fixing breakfast, you begin to feel a warm sensation, a sensation that comes with joy. It may bring to your mind a memory of something that made you smile - or it may not - but the feeling is there. It’s like creating a little sunshine from the inside out.

Now think of a couple of things you are grateful for and let that smile come again.

What a way to start the day.

Now try a laugh!

Be the love that you are.