Everyday, I look in the mirror to see the face staring back at me. Sometimes it is lined with stress, sorrow and grief. Other times, it simply smiles in humbled reservation. But the reflection of our lives... that, is who we are -- who we represent ourselves to be. For some, it is wearing hearts upon their sleeves; for others, their thoughts and words go unspoken forever.

But what does having a reflection of our lives have to do with surviving loss and humility? Simply put, being able to view ourselves from a third-person perspective -- stepping outside of ourselves -- allows us to see our true reflections. It is through our own defensive-healing mechanisms that we triumph over heartache, grief and anxiety. Each individual has his own unique way of developing trueness with the self.

When bad things happen in our lives, our brains go into overdrive. Technically, our minds instinctively warp into action with one goal in sight: "what in the heck happened and how can I fix it?" or "why did this happen -- could I have prevented this from happening?" We instantaneously turn off our logical senses as our emotions now lead the focus of our reflective hindsight. Without critically taking a broad overview of a particular situation, we attempt to find reason in the why and how -- never realizing that sometimes, things simply happen.

In life, there are events that are inevitable. Perhaps the greatest quandary of life is reckoning with death and trying to transcend the ruins of mortality. Again, the reflections of our lives is how we cope with all things -- good and bad. The healing process of reflective thinking is merely a phase that all must encounter before going forth with comprehensive understanding. In essence, then, we are the reflection of our lives as we continue to live, breath, laugh, love, hope, sacrifice, sorrow, and even die.

The answer to finding inner peace in times of tribulation, is to circumvent the action and find wholeness in our true reflection. This is what sets apart the difference between living life to its fullest, to living life not worth living. The choice, however, is always up to you. Thoughts to ponder.

Copyright 2003 - All Rights Reserved We are the Reflection of our Lives: How to Survive Loss & Humility by C. Bailey-Lloyd

C. Bailey-Lloyd

C. Bailey-Lloyd, established online writer and poet, recently signed a book contract with Publish America, LLLP.

Her spiritual and philosophical book, "Somewhere Along the Beaten Path," is currently in the production process and will be available for purchase in the coming weeks; and in the near future, other venues as well.

She is also the Public Relations Director and Professional Writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc.