Self-Reflection: I’m looking at the man in the mirror.
“Take a look at yourself, and then make a change” – Michael Jackson
Self-reflection is something that I believe needs to be learned; many view it as a thing that needs to be discovered. To take a logical approach, it can be a process of making or holding a view of yourself, and evaluate how you are doing regarding strengths and weaknesses. I have spent much time reflecting on and assessing the person that I am, and how I came to be the person that I am today.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
In my life, I have encountered those who believe that I am overly critical because of my traumatic childhood. I explained my anxieties in my previous post about peoples’ perceptions of me, and how they may change once my life story is released. However, I am just like everyone else, I may have endured more than others, but I feel that we all as humans do suffer from the inability to love ourselves at some point in our lives.
I have achieved the biggest self-reflection in writing my autobiography. I have finally written down my full life story, and though it was traumatic, it was therapeutic self-reflection in the same instance. With the release of my book, it was an accomplishment in its own right, it was always a personal goal, and just like everything I have achieved in my life, I set the goal and finished it.
For as long as I can remember, I have been a determined individual, and my past experiences may have moulded that, or possibly pushed me to remain strong. The point is I am proud of the person that I have become, I have overcome more hardships than others however what I feel that makes me stand apart is my determination.
Learning to love yourself: “It’s not what you say out of your mouth that determines your life; it’s what you whisper to yourself that has the most power!” – Robert. T. Kiosaki
There are those that hold the view that you cannot love until you learn to love yourself. I do not keep this view per-say. The reason for this is because I started to finally accept the person that I was due to my wife, Diana. Diana accepted me for the person that I am, wholly inside and out. Affection and love from another is possibly the magic touch that we all need.
Self-reflection can be both a talent and a gift; some need to experience someone in their life that made them feel worthwhile to develop self-love. There are those that can achieve it without, through work accomplishments or personal goals. We are all, as humans on a path to discover our real purpose in life. I feel that it is more learning to reflect on experiences, rather than loving ourselves. This gift or talent, I believe will come in time.
On a final note, determination is key in life. There will be times for us all where we will experience hardships, discrimination – some more so than others. So keep pushing through, and trust me you will get there in time