Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, what can you tell me?
From the desk of Rural Aid counsellor Jeffrey Grace-Jones
Photo Credit Simion Andreea-Martin
Grab a cuppa, sit down, and relax, and let me share some reflections.
I am writing about the obvious, and just like looking in the mirror you know who you are going to see.
A reminder at work is to look in the mirror and see the person who is most able to keep me safe. Yes, I am looking at me, the one who knows my every move and why I do what I do.
A school education is a good start in life. But there were no classes on working with thoughts and feelings. As a child I was told not to get angry, cry, sulk, or raise my voice. We have a full range of emotions that sometimes just come out. They help us to understand and connect with our world.
Over time I learned that if we do not express our emotions in a healthy manner they can leak out in other ways. Under enough stress they surface in ways that cause unwanted outcomes.
When caught out with major life events, it is time to seek out some helpful strategies. We may never have been taught effective strategies for the difficult times we encounter. However, there are benefits to accessing good resources. Good role-models and mentors are one such resource.
Each glance in the mirror reminds me that I am responsible and accountable for my life. I take leadership of my life, and I work with my thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Taking leadership is also knowing when to access supports and resources, especially for those tasks beyond my abilities and if I am already carrying too much.
We all make many choices every day. When to get out of bed, what to eat or drink, what to wear etc. Some of the day is planned and necessary where there is little or no choice. How we think, feel, and behave can all be worked on, here we have choices. We can be guided by informed choices that will bring about healthy outcomes.
We may not have the answers, but we will know the early warning signs: not sleeping well, not eating well, feeling stressed, behaving badly or out of character, overindulging etc., I could go on, but I expect you get the picture.
How best do I value and work with the one in the mirror? Imagine starting each day by looking into the mirror and acknowledging the one staring back from the glass is a very important person. You make choices each day that determine your future, and in some cases the future of those around you and close to you. Sometimes we don’t get the outcomes we want, but we do get to use this feedback to make other choices, to learn and to grow.
Photo Credit Tomas Sobek
Acknowledging we are important will change what we think about ourselves. It cannot take away the events or disasters around us, but it can equip us to work through our day a little more easily. It will impact how we stand, walk, and breathe throughout our day. Sometimes it is the little things we take for granted that can make such a big difference when we give them the attention they deserve. Food, water, and oxygen are the fuel that will equip us for the day ahead. Our attitude can determine our posture, and how we see the world around us. Helpful words at the right time can make a world of difference. You are welcome to reflect on these:
“Life is full of froth and bubble, two things stand like stone, kindness in another’s trouble, courage in one’s own.”
Cheers! You are of great value. Remember to take care of the one in the mirror.
