When we keep looking at another person’s life or mirror in the hope of becoming like him or her, we are looking at the mirror of envy, jealousy or covetousness. This is a sure way to Unhappinessville as we compare ourselves with those who are better off than us in areas such as got-the-look and size-of-money-vault. A small percentage of us, I would like to concede, may actually look at the mirror of another person with admiration and be inspired to improve our personal lots in life.
We could be looking at the mirror which family, relatives, friends, study mates and colleagues dish out to us. The tension here is that other people, like it or not, have certain expectations of us even when are we are not public figures like politicians. In general, we like it when they offer sincere compliments or butter us with their subtle flatteries.
However, we may feel dampened when they critique us or show their disapproval. If the feedback is indeed valid and reveal our character flaws, we could eat humble pies and get some help to become a better person. If the criticism is given out of malice, then the wise thing to do would be to discard it altogether. Sometimes, there is a grain of truth in what they say of us. We could take it with a pinch of salt and keep moving forward in life while evaluating whether we ought to make some adjustments to our behavior and/or value system.
Oh, yes, there are mirrors which the Hidden Persuaders (actually read a book by this name for my General Paper) would love to remind us constantly through mass media. These advertisements infiltrate and keep infiltrating our senses and let loose on how we should look (e.g., ‘Slim is in, Honey’) with a plethora of beauty treatments and update us on the fashion trend for each season. If we let them, they will be pulling the strings of our life, including our purse.
When look into our own mirrors, not all of us like what we see. On the one hand, we need to learn to love ourselves in spite of who we are. If we can’t do it, then we need to find help and we can do this while seating in front of a computer via Google search and YouTube. It will be rather difficult for us to love others and our community if we can’t even love ourselves, to begin with. On the other end of the scale, we could steer clear of narcissism in having too great a love for ourselves and parading like an informed peacock.
Personally, I like to look into the mirror of God’s Word. It says that God is love and He loves us with His everlasting love. We have been fearfully and wonderfully made by Him, and we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. The Word of God also speaks of His plan to prosper us and give us hope and a future.
Who we are is the sum of the mirrors in our life. It is crucial for us to find a fine balance and right view of the person that we wanna become. As you ponder along, may you find fresh inspiration through the following lyrics and song of “Man In The Mirror” by the late Michael Jackson:-
I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .
As I, Turn Up The Collar On My
Favourite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See
Their Needs
A Summer's Disregard,
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere
To Go
That's Why I Want You To
Know
I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change)
(Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah)
I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish
Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not
Alone?
A Widow Deeply Scarred,
Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
(Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of
The Wind, Ya' See
Cause They Got No Place
To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With
Me
(Starting With Me!)
I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Ooh!)
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change)
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