The Brain and The Looking Glass

We typically look into a mirror to get a good shot of ourselves as we, well, style our hair, apply makeup, check for anything odd that may be sticking between our teeth. After all, isn’t that what mirrors are for? To take a quick glance to ensure we’re put together? But when was the last time you looked in the mirror and smiled at who you saw? That you approved yourself? That you were comfortable while wrapped inside your skin? Our brains are the collection center of data of all the things we’ve heard about ourselves either by others or from our own thoughts. When we’re judged by our looks, our accomplishments, our status in society, our brain records the information and instantly searches for that file whenever we need it. So if the person we see in the mirror doesn’t make us proud, the brain will find the appropriate file and begin to recite from it, saying “Disappointment. Failure. Loser.” The wonderful news about our brains is that the contents of the files can be changed. Want to change your files? Let’s discover how to do this by taking lessons from a few quotes of a childhood fave, Winnie the Pooh.

Zig Ziglar: Put all excuses aside and remember this: YOU are capable.

What matters most: “You can’t help respecting anybody who can spell ‘Tuesday’, even if he can’t spell it right. But spelling isn’t everything. There are days when spelling ‘Tuesday’ simply doesn’t count.” We can dump unnecessary pressure upon ourselves because we think it’ll motivate us. But does that path really matter? Is it the right way? Focus on the things your heart finds endearing—they’re called “matters of the heart” and they shall not deceive you.

Self-understanding, self-acceptance: “You never can tell about bees.” When we work to understand someone/something, then acceptance automatically follows. To see the real YOU in the mirror can become an adventure to understand your true potential. To accept that you are far more capable then you perceive. Be still with yourself. Listen to your heart. Does it yearn to stop working through lunch hours? To step outside and hear anything but the ringing phone, fingertips clicking along the keyboard, eyeballs drying out from the monitor.

Improvement: “If you want to make a song more hummy, add a few tiddely poms.” Take a risk. Embark upon a path that you would normally shy away from. Take that risk. Follow your heart. Create a “new” normal for yourself. Only then, can the right people enter your life—those who have the capability to promote you, to mentor you, to hold the pieces of your dream together until they form into promise.

Les Brown: Someone's opinion of you does not have to become your reality.

Kindness: “Just because an animal is large, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want kindness—however big Tigger seems to be, remember that he wants as much kindness as Roo.” Want to enlarge your capacity to be kind to others? First, be kind to yourself. Cut the same amount of slack you give to others. Don’t rob yourself of the gift of kindness. When we can grow within the warmth of self-kindness then we are ready to give some of ourselves to those who are likely to respond positively and grow our self-esteem.

First Aid Kit for the Brain

A bee sting, a cut, a sliver in a child’s finger from a toy box that wasn’t sanded enough (oops!). For these mishaps and more, a well-stocked First Aid Kit can be helpful in case of an emergency. First Aid Kits are designed for specific activities, like hiking, camping or boating. But you can create one for a specific need and yes, you guessed it—a First Aid Kit for the Brain. Let’s put together a kit to match the needs of our brain—one that has everything necessary to keep a positive focus on our goals and aspirations.

1) First Aid Instruction Booklet: A First Aid Manual for the Brain can guide us to see the best in ourselves. How we “label” ourselves is critical to the overall welfare of our brain. Names can build or destroy the foundation of our mindset. For example, we stump our toe and shout, “Klutz.” We can’t seem to stay in a relationship and we angrily say, “Unlovable.” These labels train us to give up and when we do, we whisper, “Loser.” And sadly, we’ll eventually learn to live up to these names. Think on things that are true; things worthy of respect; meditate on whatever brings you awe—use these labels to encourage, to strengthen, to anchor you.

Montaigne: The pleasantest things in the world are pleasant thoughts; and the great art of life is to have as many of them as possible.

2) Antiseptic Wipes: Clean out stinkin’ thinkin’ that lend to a bad attitude. Negativity pollutes our brain. You may say, “Negative thoughts come easier than positive ones.” That’s true, but we can’t afford the luxury of a negative thought. When a demeaning thought creeps up, STOP! Trash the stuff that contaminates your mind and make positive thinking a habit. After all, you’re special enough to deserve exceptional thoughts of who you are. So, have a searching conversation with your soul—the birthplace of positive thoughts.

John Lubbock: What we see depends mainly on what we look for.

3) Tweezers: A useful tool to pull out debris embedded in our skin. Remove the thorn of strife or whatever irritates your sense of well-being. Inner Growth happens when we get rid of the stuff that tends to bog us down. Inner Growth is a process. It can’t be hurried. Self-awareness emerges at the moment of reflection, when we recognize what we have come out of, and where we can aspire to.

Kahlil Gibran: Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.

4) Bandages: The Red Cross recommends 25 bandages for a family of four. Why so many? Perhaps to make frequent changes to keep the wound “fresh” for healing. The need to change a bandage often applies to the need to challenge our brain that suffer from boredom: doing the same thing, hearing the same music, driving the same roads. Stimulate your brain! Meet new people. Read books in a different genre. Eat something new.

Voltaire: If we do not find anything very pleasant, at least we shall find something new.