One of the games that my 10-month old grandson loves to play is when I hold him in front of the mirror, pointing first to me and saying, “Grandma” and then to him, saying, “Andrew.” Then I wave at him.
“Hi, Andrew!”
Big grin. Looks at me, looks at the mirror. Repeat.
I’ve been playing this with him since he was old enough to hold his head up and look.
After all, mirrors are magical and fascinating things. They let us see ourselves. And even though it is a little confusing at Andrew’s age, he still perceives that he is seeing himself and me in the mirror as I hold him.
We use mirrors to make sure that our hair and makeup are in place, that our clothes fit and hang properly, and that we aren’t harboring anything in our teeth leftover from lunch.
These kinds of mirrors reflect back who we are on the surface. For mirrors that reflect back to us what lies beneath our physical appearance we need relationships.
Our first mirrors are our family, reflecting back to us ourselves as mother, sister, daughter, aunt, grandmother, and wife. Or, if you are a guy—father, brother, son, uncle, grandfather and husband. Your daughter reflects back to you who and how you are as a mom, just as you reflect back to her who and how she is as a daughter. Even if we feel the mirror’s reflection is distorted, that image of self is still mirrored back to us.
Other mirrors are the clients, customers, and audience for our creative work.
Not true, you say? After all, don’t we claim those roles for ourselves?
Initially, yes. But, if no one reads the writing, buys the painting, or pays for coaching, doubt creeps in. Perhaps I’m not really a writer or a coach or a creative. Perhaps it’s just something I like to do…
So mirrors for our creative work are important. Quality mirrors. Aware, nurturing, compassionate mirrors.
As creatives, we need people who believe in who we are and what we do…Even those who have achieved a level of creative success.
The people who pay for our work are one type of creative mirror. Every time someone buys the book, writes a good review, or becomes a regular client or customer, then what is mirrored back to us is, “Wow! You are creative. You are a writer…painter…coach. And your work has value.”
But there are other mirrors as well and we have to be careful about which ones we look to for reflection and which ones might be distorted for one reason or another.
If we are serious about our creativity and our creative work, then we will surround ourselves with mirrors that reflect back the depth and breadth of our promise and possibility. We need mentors and peers who also reflect back the commitments, the hard work, and the achievements so that we can see the BIG picture or reflection of ourselves and our work. Not the little self of limitations and doubts and disbelief.
When Andrew and I stand at the mirror, I can see the promise and possibility for this bright, energetic, loving little boy. And I will keep reflecting that back to him as he grows. I will help him to continue to see who he is and what he can do in the world.
I’ll love doing it for him, just as I love doing it for you.
Pay attention to who your mirrors are. Who are you surrounding yourself with and what do they reflect back to you?
Are they helping you to see the promise and possibility of who you are and what you can do in the world?
How are you serving as a mirror of promise and possibility for others?