Your View In The Mirror

Do you matter to yourself? You may take care of your family, your friends, and give your best to your job and career. Your value and worth are measured by your accomplishments and performance. How much can you complete each day from your “to do” list? Your faith may be a vital part of your life, but you use the same measurement focusing on earning favor and being a good person.

You put pressure on yourself to be perfect – to do everything just right and not make mistakes. You fear being judged by others if your flaws are exposed. Your value and worth are based on how others perceive you. You seek external validation. It is good to desire that people like, accept, and value you as a person. But if your worth is based on other imperfect and flawed people who are also struggling with their own sense of value, you may not receive the validation you are seeking.

Unfortunately, some people who do not have a sense of worth and self-esteem tend to be negative toward other people seeking to make themselves feel better by focusing on the faults of others. This does not work; it just makes you a negative and belittling person. Tearing someone else down does not make you look better. It makes you lose the respect of others.

Look in the mirror, the mirror of your soul. Look deep down inside yourself. Be kind to yourself. You have value and worth just because you are you. You were created with your own special gifts, talents, abilities, and purpose. Nobody has your uniqueness. Your worth is not just what you do, it is who you are. Liking who you are is not being conceited or prideful. It is humbly living the life you were created to live and being who you were created to be.

Some of you may be looking in the rear-view mirror focusing on who you used to be. This is a new season of life. What you do and who you are now may be different than the last season of life. Also focusing on the past mistakes and failures prevents you from living fully in the present. Learn from the past, forgive yourself, and release the past. It is complete. It is part of who you are, but you do not live there anymore. You live in the present.

Accept who you are and who you are becoming. Everywhere you go, you take yourself with you. Start enjoying your own company. Find activities that bring you joy and a sense of contentment. If you look in the mirror and want to make some changes, start with a plan. Take a risk and do something different. Enjoy just being. Fill your spirit with the wind of peace and your thoughts with good words.

Look at yourself. Do you know what you believe and what is important to you? Do not base it on other people’s views or how you want them to see you. Take the time to ponder who you are, what you believe, and the legacy you want to leave to those who follow you.

Elaine J. Sturtz

Living In The Different