MIRRORS

We all have mirrors we like to turn towards now and then - in times of fear, indecisiveness, distress, guilt, and joy. We like to stare into the mirror and look at the reflections staring back at us -  of empathy, and, sympathy.

These mirrors are people – ‘our people’. The ones we turn towards at different times looking for answers and comfort.

Our choice of who we turn to changes with situations, because somewhere we know who will tell us what, and more than that we know exactly what we want to listen to. We know which mirror would reflect those parts of us that we wish to see.

If leave our comfort zone and chose them wisely, we get a different perspective towards the situation - and we grow. But, if we chose them to suit ourselves and our beliefs then we just get a pseudo pleasure of a false victory from thinking that we were correct all the way long.

Though a larger question here is not which mirror to chose … but what happens when we cannot find the correct (or desired) reflection in any of the mirrors?

What do we do then? Where do we go? Where do we look?

In situations like those the most effective thing could be … to stop looking for mirrors at all! We should look away, like we always should have. We should close our eyes and concentrate on the answers we already have – the answers that we believe in, true to the heart.

... And we should feel all the mirrors shattering around us into innumerable pieces, thrown into the universe far far away - and shining onto us like little stars, applauding for us.

APPRECIATION

Appreciation is a response of great importance – with great powers.

It is a response which involves both, our brain as well heart. This starts with the involuntary act of the heart on recognizing the existence of beauty and feeling a rush of certain emotions: a sense of happiness, enthusiasm, love, gratitude, warmth, liberty, and more. It is the kind of feeling where one wants to exclaim the joy felt inside.

Though most times, while our heart is indulged in the beauty, the brain peeps in its little nose asking “Appreciating, huh?”

This is when the brain takes over slowly, followed by inspection, analysis, scrutiny, rationalization, and eventually criticism. Everything but what was heartfelt.

The important thing here is to realize why does our heart decide to give in to reasons and rationalization? And even more important is to know why do we let it give in? Was our heart ... afraid, jealous, and negative, pumped with ego, or was it just too proud to admit what it felt?

Every heart has a story - a different reason.

Because ...

Everyone is in a different maze - and everyone is trapped.

Though it is only when we decide to take a step ahead and search that we decide to liberate: from the fear, jealousy, pride, and negativity- and it is only when we let our hearts speak that we can liberate.

So, let us let our heart speak. 

Let us learn to appreciate: the beauty around, and therefore the beauty inside!