What do you see in the mirror?

“The theme of The Mirror Has Two Faces is that beauty is in the heart of the beholder. It also deals with the fact that the world often mirrors back to you your own perception of yourself.”

-Barbara Streisand

This is probably one of the movies that made the biggest impact on me in my journey of self-discovery.  This one, and of course “Fried Green Tomatoes.”  Both movies dealing with the ‘beauty myth’, self-esteem and transformation as the leading ladies rediscover their ‘brave’ and their beauty. 

I have mulled over the title and the concept of the mirror having two faces for ages.  I eventually got it!  I got it, because I experienced it. 

Actually, I experienced two different scenarios.  Firstly, that the world mirrors back to you your own perception of yourself.

This truth hit me one day in a statement my sisters made.  They were always sitting close to each other, hugging, lying on the same bed chatting, etc. I always longed to be in that circle, but was also not sure if I really belonged there. So I kept my distance.  One day they made a casual comment in the line of ‘we know you don’t like hugs and physical contact’.  I was shocked!!  (side note – my love language is quality time and physical contact).  Here they were thinking that I was the one keeping myself out of their closeness, while I was desperately hoping I would be included! They mirrored back to me the perception I had of myself of not belonging – with no fault on their part.

We act from the beliefs we hold about ourselves.  How you see yourself is vital, because it determines your behaviour and the image you portray to the world.  Your perception is not reality, but it’s rather your own inner idea of reality.  Your mind filters everything and it colours it accordingly. If this is all new to you, then you NEED to check out our Neuroscience of Getting Unstuck course today to understand how all of this belief level work in your brain keeps you stuck in life.

The other scenario is this: The mirror shows you the face you choose to see. 

Do you see yourself in monochrome or full colour? 

You either see the beauty and the truth that you are fearfully and wonderfully made (yes, despite the cellulite, lines, the minor imperfections and quirks) or you see the lies you’ve been told, either by others or yourself. 

Try out the ‘mirror test’! Can you look at yourself intently for 5 min, maybe 10 min without squirming and criticizing? It’s amazing how few women can actually look themselves in the eye with love, grace and joy.  I could not.  And NO…. Doing makeup and hair does not count!  

If you relate to either of these scenarios, you might be struggling with an area of low self-esteem. But don’t fear!

I’m here to tell you that living radiantly with the light switched on inside, is beautifully possible. 

Having a healthy self-esteem means you have a balanced, accurate view of yourself. For instance, you have a good opinion of your abilities but can also recognize your flaws. It means that you operate from a place of worthiness which gives you glorious self-confidence. 

Confidence helps us feel ready for life’s experiences. When we’re confident, we’re more likely to move forward with people and opportunities — not back away from them. And if things don’t work out at first, confidence helps us try again. It’s the opposite when confidence is low. Confidence roots in you in who you are. But more importantly, it allows you to live with your whole heart!   

If you are ready to embark on a journey of growth and building this powerful and radiant confidence in yourself, then I invite you to join me in my Live Brave course. It’s a chance for you to discover an empowering self esteem so that you can live radiantly and in full colour.

In my opinion, there are few things more attractive than a confident, brave woman!

Beauty is indeed in the HEART of the beholder.  It’s not so much about what you SEE, is more about what you ‘BE’.  It’s there in your heart where you find your worth. It is there where you find your beauty.