What if every time you looked in the mirror, the person staring back at you wasn’t really you? The person you saw, identical to you in every detail, was yourself in an alternate existence? The moments you share in the mirror are the only moments you share identically, move for move, down to the very outfit you wore and the way you styled your hair. Everything that led you both to that moment was completely different until you met again in the mirror.
What if, then, everything you said to that person affected the way they saw themselves, the way they felt, the way they thought, and the way they acted and lived their lives? They had no idea it was coming from you, on the other side. Would you still say the things you say in the mirror?
“You could lose some weight.”
“You’re age is showing.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“You messed up…again.”
“You can’t do this.”
“You’re a terrible person.”
And even, “I hate you.”
Imagine the looks of disgust you know you’re guilty of giving or the lifeless, dazed glares that reciprocate empty feelings about yourself. Maybe you cry, sigh in apathy, or express disappointment or guilt. You can’t forgive yourself. Maybe you take out everything you really think about yourself on, well, this other person, who doesn’t know that the reason they are hurting is because their alternate self is showing an astounding lack of love and grace.
But what would they live like if you smiled at them and showed them hope instead of negativity? Wouldn’t their day be filled with a sense of hope for themselves, that maybe they could achieve the thing they were dreaming of, or become the kind of person they hoped they could be? If they had just a little of your support, maybe they would actually feel loved by you.
I think you know what I’m getting at.
Now imagine the negative things you say to yourself, but you find out it’s not only your alternate self you’re talking to but a two-way mirror, with someone else completely listening to the things you’re saying. Whether they think you’re talking to them, or they realize you’re talking to yourself, what would you say differently?
The things we tell ourselves—our self-talk and thought-life affect how we feel and see ourselves. And not only does it shape who we are and how we love ourselves, but it affects how we love others and how they see us. What would someone think of you if they saw what you say or think to yourself? Do you love yourself? Are you accepting your mistakes as history and believing you can rise above them? Do you give yourself hope, respect, and grace for your mistakes? God sees the way we talk to ourselves, and it pains Him because He loves you bigger and better than that. If He shows you all that love and positive feedback, you certainly should be able to show it to yourself. Your self-talk not only affects the way you feel about and see yourself, but it also affects the way you love others. If your bucket for love, grace, respect, and kindness is empty, then what do you have to pour into that other person behind the mirror?
On another note, I’d love to make a movie or short film with this concept.
