Welcome to the first issue of Mirror Moments, a newsletter focused on promoting personal growth through short check-ins with the self.

Every post will present brief thoughts and questions to help you reflect on the extent to which you are living in alignment with your vision and values. It will also hold up a mirror to your thinking, habits, and actions using both macro and micro lenses, and challenge you to create a few moments to practice mindfulness, intention-setting, and, occasionally, a little action planning. 

Today, let’s zoom in on the core ways you view ourselves. 

Macro: What do you call what you see?  

When the caterpillar looks in the mirror, does it know one day it will have wings? Does it know that someday it will fly? Does it see the beauty in the crawling stage? When it becomes a butterfly, does it question why it is not a bird?

When you look in the mirror right now, what do you see? More importantly, what do you call what you see? Do you see someone beautiful, deserving, and worthy of a wonderful life? Have you stopped seeing your wings because you feel stuck in the transformation stages? 

You are designed to be a butterfly even if you are presently in your caterpillar stage. You might have framed and labeled yourself based on your current circumstances. If so, it is time to reframe what you see. You are a work in progress. The current season is necessary for your growth. You are a beautiful butterfly even if you’re not there yet. 

Micro: What are you allowing to feed your soul?

What are you consuming? What are you allowing to feed your soul? Often, it is the sum of small moments and thoughts that influence your self-image. If you have been spending a lot of time listening to or reading things that make you feel crappy about yourself, it is time to switch it up and start consuming more positive messages.

If that’s not possible (because life or the world feels overwhelming right now), then your micro goal is to find gratitude and the small glimmers of light and good within and around you. If you can, start by trying to consume as much good as you are negative information.

Oh, and that goes for how you speak about yourself: counter your negative self-talk with at least as much positive. 

Mindful: What do you need to reflect on?

• What do you see when you look in the mirror?
• What do you need to reframe? 
• What do you need to consume more or less of today? This week? 

Pay it forward:

Who else needs to hear this message and reminder? Send this post to a friend or family member who could use a loving reminder of their beauty.