As I pondered this new year we are attempting to embrace with its new adventures, opportunities, and president I couldn’t help thinking about the books “Alice and Wonderland” and the sequel “Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There.” You might remember Alice in Wonderland is a fictional tale about a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by all kinds of fascinating creatures. Well, Through the Looking Glass has Alice stepping through a looking glass to the world she sees beyond it.
We typically start the year reaching for the future we see beyond the looking glass; with grand resolutions and commitments to make our lives better. We promise ourselves that the end of this new year will find us in a better place financially, spiritually, emotionally, and or physically. But, are we only looking through the looking glass at a fantasy world we see beyond the mirror? Have we really considered what we see in the mirror?
Find a mirror. Right now. What do you see? For some of us, we immediately begin to pick ourselves apart, finding every physical flaw. Stop it! Consider the mirror as a reflection of the previous year. Allow everything; “the good the bad, and the ugly” to quickly pass through the mirror of your mind.
If you look deeply, you will see everything. The sum of you. Everything that happened before this year helps to make up who you are right now. Something tells me that most of you are still looking at your physical perfections or flaws, if that is true, you are not looking deep enough. Perhaps you have experienced: (mentally check all that apply)
- Deep emotional hurt
- Death
- The birth of a child
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Illness
- Financial hardship
- Financial gain
- Career advancements
- Career setbacks
- Starting a new business
- Losing a business
- Weight loss
- Weight gain
- Powerlessness
- Power
Can you see everything now? Don’t allow sadness to creep in. USE EVERYTHING YOU SEE! Recognize you are powerful beyond measure. Now take what you saw that is your “past” and allow it to propel you forward—through the looking glass of resolutions and lofty goals; into the real-world accomplishments, you seek.
Alice found herself in a fantasy land beyond the looking glass. An area full of Jabberwocky (nonsense language) and the adventures of Tweedledee and Tweedledum (the fat twin brothers) whose primary goals were to distract Alice and provoke her into believing things that were not true.
Tweedledee, Tweedledum, and Jabberwocky are real in your life as well. There may be many people talking loud and saying nothing or attempting to distract you with provocative language designed to keep you from accomplishing your goals. Whether they appear as the twins of doubt and defeat or the distractions garnered by a new president’s claims which provoke fear. Keep your eye on what is available for you through the looking glass.
Don’t let a glass ceiling or mirror hold you back. Go through the looking glass. When you use everything you are and everything at your disposal, achievement of all that you have planned for this new year is yours.