Reflection: Not of the Mirror-Kind

I think society as a whole struggle with this idea of looking back as we have become so obsessive toward looking forward. Its seems to be that there is always another challenge, goal, step, and phase ahead of us; so much so that we lose track of everything we have already accomplished, and focus on what we have yet to achieve.

This post is a reminder to us all to just take a minute to look back at where we were.

Stop right now.

Think back to your life a month, six months, or even a year ago! Focus on one area of your life, an area you may often critique yourself over, or an aspect of your life where you see many goals ahead. If you are stuck, here’s a few ideas:

• Sleep

• Stress levels

• Coping mechanisms

• Family relations

• Friendships

• Intimacy

• Study

• Work

• Physical Activity

• Food – variety, quantity, timing, fears

• Yourself – perceptions, thought patterns, rituals

Take a few minutes to think where you were; what sort of life were you capable of living? How much limitation did you have on your living as a consequence of the stage you were at? How much impact and value did you place upon this area, how much did it dictate your life? Were any other areas of your life constrained by your position? What was your outlook on life like? What thoughts, feelings, and moods were dominating your waking hours?

Now, reflect on where you are now. How far have you come? Perhaps you may have gone backwards? Does this area dictate your life, living, and thoughts more or less? At this time – it is common to disregard the things we deem “little”, or perhaps “insignificant”. Don’t! Those small steps are what made where you are right now possible. That extra bite, that extra hour worked more or less, the extra ten-minutes of shut-eye, raising your hand in class or a lecture, checking that light switch one less time – these are all triumphs that should not be disregarded.

Let me be the first person to say I am damn proud of you. Wherever you were then and how far you have come now – have a cheeky smile to yourself, heck – throw in a wee pat on the back.

For me, right now, I have got a wee smirk on my face. I am constantly seeing all that I am not in my life, all things that I have yet to achieve. But you know what? I’m bloody proud of where I am compared to the beginning of the year – I’ll focus on my Uni social life to provide you an example. Starting the year, a was bricking university starting again: the crowds, the group work, the Uni Clubs and associations I signed myself up to and the expectations they brought with them. Fast forward to August? I’m really entrenched in not only my university studies, I am helping running a university club, sitting on a University advisory committee, attending Uni-run events, and – while I still dread the words “group assessment” – I am not hating working with others as much. Now, while I may not be as active as my other peers, I don’t care – from where I was to where I am now I have made strides in my life that I never thought possible. I’m not going to lie – I’m pretty chuffed with myself, and I didn’t realise it until just now. Talk about taking my own advice and proving it works, right?

We don’t celebrate ourselves enough – apparently society views this as selfish, or perhaps self-absorbed? If we cannot treat ourselves well, and recognise how badass we are and the achievements we have made, how are we going to ever be really, truly be satisfied and happy in ourselves?

Let me tell you this – you have permission to celebrate yourself. Reflection can give you that extra motivation you need to continue to make positive strides in your life – whatever area in which you wish to take.

Don’t underestimate the power of self-reflection.

Your friend,

Rawing Meg xx