Can a Mirror really help with emotions?

We all know the experience. We are going along, and we suddenly find ourselves feeling anxious,frustrated, down, angry or (insert any emotion here).  We may not know the cause, or we may recognize the event or thought that changed how we were feeling.  It can be a positive change as well… this isn’t all about difficult feelings, but rather on understanding any feelings we have.

Built to Feel

We are built to feel things.  It’s very much part of how we navigate, learn, grow, and experience this life; so, there is absolutely nothing wrong with feelings.  In fact, recognizing them, actually ‘feeling’ them, is far healthier than ignoring or burying them (trust me, I have years of therapy to substantiate this)

Having said that, feeling emotions is not the same as having them directing or dictating your experiences.  But, we are built to feel things, so it’s very easy for our emotions get the better of us and start to run the show.

The goal of any process in working with our emotions is not to stop feeling.  One, that is impossible, and of course, not at all healthy. Instead, the goal is to help us take back the management of ourselves, and how we navigate through our day, and our lives.

Consider a child (or a friend) who is upset, and through tears or anger, explaining why.  You can see how they are acting… and more, why. They are tired, hurt, dramatic, frustrated, or scared.  You can do this because you are outside of the emotions and the situation…. You are watching both the circumstance and the response.  You are an observer (well, a parent or a friend, too) here.

Mirroring Ourselves

What if I told you that a mirror can help you with your emotions?  That you can use it (as real or metaphorically) to reset your mind and perspective, and to help you observe your own circumstances differently.

Take a moment now, and either go stand, or imaging standing, in front of a mirror.  While standing there, focus your attention on the reflection.  Now, recognize it as truly that… a reflection, and not the ‘you’ that is seeing the reflection. Focus on the separation of you and the reflection.

Once you have that, start to see the reflection as your experience of what is going on, while the not reflection you can simply watch how the reflection feels and acts.  All that is going on is still happening and the responses are still there… but now they are slightly removed from the you that is watching this reflection.  Remember, this is an exercise, so you will want to try it a few times to get the hang of it.