Mirror, Mirror
On the Wall
By Sophia Falke

“Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who’s the cause of it all?
Why the violence and the thugs?
Why not peace, love and hugs?”

“You talkin’ to me?” Mirror replied.
“The answer outside does not reside,
But in our thoughts and words and deeds
Lie the answers, so take heed.”

Okay, okay, already; you can see poetry has not been high on my list of personal talents. But I’m hoping you get the point (and, perhaps, a chuckle) from the “poem.” It’s one of the basic principles of the Universe under which we operate: Everything that happens around us is a reflection of what is happening within us.

I was guided to focus on this principle as a result of my own and others’ thoughts and emotions surrounding the January shootings in Tucson and the finger pointing afterward, as well as some situations shared with me by parents here in Las Vegas.

The Tucson shootings involved a young man killing three men, two women, and one child and wounding 14 others during a public forum. As I write this article, it appears that the person the shooter intended to kill will survive. After the shootings, I saw a lot of anger directed toward the shooter, blame cast on the negative political campaigning of the past few years, blame cast on the mental health delivery system, bewilderment, and fear. Next in frequency were expressions of compassion for the people wounded and killed and for their families. And way down on the list were expressions of love and compassion for the shooter himself. That was what I saw in the media and on the Internet.

What thoughts and emotions come up for you when you heard about the shootings? No, don’t just keep reading. Take a moment to go within and bring forward your thoughts and feelings.

I asked myself the same question. I noticed that my first reaction was to surround everyone involved in light and love. I felt sadness and regret. Then I saw my thoughts shift to some judgments: “It’s legal to carry a concealed weapon in Arizona, what do you…” Oops, stop! Not a road I want to go down. “Don’t these newscasters see the harm they’re doing by casting blame everywhere?” Darn! Wrong road again. Then I saw that in judging my judgments, I was starting to turn on myself.

And here’s when I remembered. Everything that was coming up for me reflected what was within me. That reflection, whether I view it as beautiful or ugly, good or bad, is a metaphor of what is going on in my own consciousness.

My thoughts, perceptions, and level of awareness are like drops of water in the ocean. They are part of the consciousness of all humanity. I am one with those who were killed or wounded, one with their families and friends, one with all the blame throwers, one with those feeling love and compassion, and one with the shooter himself.

Of all the thoughts and emotions I could focus on in this ocean of mindfulness (or mindlessness, depending on my perspective), where do I want to direct my attention? What reflection do I want to see in my own “Mirror, mirror on the wall” experience? Does it matter?

I mentioned earlier in this article that there were some interactions closer to home that also prompted me to look at how the outer is a reflection of the inner. Several parents have shared with me their frustration with their children in their teens or twenties. Along with the frustration there was a desire to correct the child’s behavior. Because the parents invited my input, I asked, “What does your child do ‘right’?” In each case, there was an immediate change in the parent’s energy as they shifted the focus of their attention on the positive. The parent felt it. I felt it. And, because we are all interconnected, I believe their children also felt it.

I then asked, “What would it be like if you concentrated on what your child does right and made that the focus of your conversations with them?” In each case, the parent’s face relaxed as they experienced a moment of clarity. They saw the outer (their children’s behaviors) mirrored the inner judgments they were making. They experienced a sense of spaciousness and possibility as they shifted their focus to what is going “right.”

Our universal principle, “Everything that happens around us is a reflection of what is happening within us”, applies to incidents miles away and right at home. It’s quite simple. If we don’t like the outer, we need only go within, get in touch with our own inner goodness, love, and light (we all have it) and let it shine forth. It isn’t always easy to do, but that’s what we are all here for…to support each other on our journey of light. Focus on the good, focus on what’s working. Watch how your life, your workplace, your family situation, your community, your world responds with the same. Let your light shine so brightly that others must wear sunglasses to be in your presence.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who’s the cause of it all?
“You are, sweet cheeks; it’s your call.
So come on, make life a ball!”

Sophia Falke is a coach, seminar leader, and motivational speaker through her business Embracing Greatness (EmbracingGreatness.com). She is also minister at Unity Center in the Valley (uciv.org). If you would like to learn more or have Sophia speak at your business or event, you can reach her at Sophia@EmbracingGreatness.com .