The Mirror Will Tell You Honestly What Are You As A Person

I have a habit of mirror gazing and looking at my reflection in the mirror.  I do that at times when I am in the midst of a crisis, or when I feel I am standing at a crossroads and don't know what to do.

Indeed a person who does not know the psychology of mirror gazing ... might misconstrue me as somebody going nuts ... or me within a stone-throw away from the loony bin. Or they may even think I have paroxysmal bouts of narcissism ... and they think I don't have shame showing the whole world I was scrutinizing myself (all overt signs showed I was too self-involved with myself).

To the uninformed  ... sorry guys you have judged me quick and prematurely. Yes ... all the obvious narcissistic signs are there (self-loving and self-admiring) but that's not what I was doing. I was not looking at how many wrinkles I have ... how many grey hairs said hello to the world today ... or how aquiline my nose was. You are just too gullible and too naive to jump to conclusions ... the rule of thumb is ... sometimes what you see is not always what it means.

I was merely saying Hi to my inner self. In times of self-doubt, I look at myself in the mirror ... self-absorbed and unflinching. In psychology, it is my way of confronting my thoughts and emotions ... and by so doing ... it helps me gain insight and a deeper understanding of myself and the stressor at hand and how I am reacting to it. For health professionals mirrors are often used to explore our feelings ... and reexamine our defenses.

Seeing my reflection in the mirror helps me to acknowledge myself, my strengths, and my weaknesses, and how my coping mechanisms are faring. It helps me keep abreast of my emotions, and it gives me an idea of how people look at me as a person. It paved the way to give me a 20/20 vision and see for myself my own little imperfections.

Looking at myself in the mirror is not an exercise in self-adoration ... far from that. I did not stand there winking at myself ... flashing Korean finger-heart signs ... or throwing flying kisses to my mirror image. That's very juvenile and preposterous!

I was there because I wanted to check on how I felt about myself ... and how I managed the running soap opera in my life. When my self-esteem was at its lowest ebb ... I was wrestling with negativities ... and I was enveloped with ambivalent emotions of hate, anger, jealousy, and sadness. And when there was no one available person to give me a crying shoulder ... this "do it myself method" comes in handy. I found the mirror so cathartic as it provides much-needed mental and psychological comfort and solace.

Psychology is right ... mirror-gazing can help. In times of emotional crisis, we need a face-to-face powwow with another person to reduce stress. In the absence of a compassionate ear ... a mirror can be a good substitute.

Having a talk with another person (or if nobody is available the mirror is a willing proxy even if it can't talk) helps us stay emotionally connected with ourselves. With their help, we come to understand who we are ... based on the reflections shown (whether it is the other person ... or the mirror.) Seeing through their eyes ... we know how they feel and how we feel in return.

What we see in their facial expressions (whether it is the other person or the mirror) becomes a powerful reflector of our own pain and suffering.

I can't emphasize enough how SELF AWARENESS is a must. It allows us to see things from the perspective of others. If we don't know ourselves we don't have a good sense of who we are. We are just like a headless chicken ... squawking without direction.

Huwag Umasa Sa Iba

Huwag Umasa Sa Iba. I have always believed that a self-reliant person is somebody whose attitudes were completely changed:

a) From GIVE-IT-TO-ME ... he changed to DO-IT-MYSELF person.

b) From SIT-BACK-AND-WAIT ... he metamorphosed into GET-UP-AND-GO guy.

Self-reliance is the only road to true FREEDOM.  

If you have a problem and you always depend on somebody to solve it for you ... there is no freedom. 

If you get sick needing to go to the hospital, and the prospect of skyrocketing hospital bills prevents you from doing it ... there is no freedom.

When you feel helpless and have trouble making simple life decisions ... and are incapable of taking care of yourself... there is no freedom.

If you get married and you think your parents are the answer to all your marital and financial woes ... and you keep knocking at their door for help ... there is no true freedom.

True freedom is when you do things ... your way ... alone and independently ... without necessarily thinking about what others will say or comment. 

Trust your instincts ... form your own opinion ... and make good choices.

Daily Reminder

 

Pageant Result: Mister Grand International 2024

The winners of Mister Grand International 2024 from left to right: Jesus Guinto - Philippines- Fifth Runner Up, Michal  Kalcowski -Poland - Third Runner Up, Igor Cheban - Singapore - First Runner Up, Seif Al Walid - Lebanon - Mr. Grand International 2024- Winner, Sirinutt Sean Cholvibol - Thailand - Second Runner Up, Jung Sung - Korea- Fourth Runner Up. The pageant was held at Casa Cultura Hinojos in Huelva Spain last January 14, 2024. 

Caption That

Matindi talaga ang pangangailangan mo.  

You've just deposited your first savings for 2024 ... tapos nangangati na ang kamay mo na i-withdraw na ito? Kawawang coin ... hindi pa nga uminit ang puwit nito sa container iwithdraw na para gumawa ng kabutihan?

Huwag ka na ngang mag New Years Resolution! Naalibadbaran ako sa iyo.

My Two Cents Worth

Mental health experts have this to say. When somebody harbors ill feelings for somebody ...and tries not to acknowledge it like nothing has happened is unhealthy.

When one refuses to admit that he is angry and repudiates the existence of resentment or bad blood... is like a bomb waiting to explode. Denying the feeling is like putting gasoline on the fire.

Acknowledging bad feelings ... and making the first step to talk to the person you are angry with allow good feelings to return.

It is a step in the right direction. Just remember that being angry interferes and cripples your peace of mind. When you are hostile and unforgiving ... your mental anguish and grief seem like forever and are cutting you off from your relationship.

Would you rather not have peace of mind ... and would you rather be alone?

Holding A Grudge

Holding a GRUDGE on someone can be likened to a man pushing a big stone towards the top of the hill (see the image above). It is a difficult process, an uphill climb, a Herculean task, a risky STRUGGLE, and a treacherous BATTLE. It requires a great deal of effort and determination.

Holding a grudge can be likened also to a man with a shackle ball. He feels like he is in prison. Holding a grudge is when you can't let go of your feelings of anger and resentment to the person who has wronged you. You allow yourself to self-destruct and you resent that he has moved on and enjoyed his life. Why the picture of a shackle ball on his leg?

Simple ... when the man is in the heat of the moment ... he is angry. Anger makes the man isolate himself ... lest other people who are not a party to his anger might become the objects of his ire. 

When the man allowed himself to be DOWNED and DROWNED in anger he is being carried away by his emotional waves farther and farther from the shore ... away from other people. It becomes a form of isolation. If that is not a prison sentence ... tell me what it is!