Uncovering your Reflection

I was always drawn to kaleidoscopes growing up…being able to look through and see colorful patterns shifting and changing could mesmerize me at a moment’s notice. Maybe that’s part of the reason I’m drawn to symbols and metaphors in my own life. I use them to ground myself and articulate meaning. In fact, within arm’s reach on my desk at home sits a small wooden bowl that holds various treasures I’ve collected over the years…there’s a marble doorknob from my immigrant ancestor’s home, a ginkgo leaf from a recent trip, stones from a well in Ireland…a variety of valued items that speak to me in a way words just can’t.  

As my own path started shifting back in 2018 when I began my coaching work in a corporate setting, I often used the symbol of a prism to think about my work. As a person who innately appreciates the uniqueness of people, I was interested in the different sides and perspectives clients offered. I thought about our work exploring like a prism, using multiple facets to refract light and produce an array of beautiful colors. Uncovering potential was such a highlight of this work together. 

My time here at PCS has offered me a new perspective on my work. I have grown to appreciate the symbol of a mirror in our work here. At its most basic, a mirror reflects back a single image. And we say a lot in how we think about and describe that reflection when we look at ourselves in a mirror, don’t we? I’ve seen the power of mirror work here and learned how those reflections can deepen our own sense of identity. And yet the symbol of the mirror is useful too as a tool. Our role as therapists, in effect, is to offer a second mirror for our clients in the questions we ask and things we notice. As we work together, we can use that mirror to offer different angles, unlocking perspectives and reflections kept hidden or previously unexplored. And I’m drawn to how these new reflections of self change the stories we tell ourselves about our past, our present, and our future. So next time you stop at a mirror to check for a hair out of place, smile and take a moment to honor the beauty and uniqueness of you, appreciating the depth of the image you see reflected back.