How Do I Look?

When was the las time you took a good look at yourself in the Mirror?

I should make an adjustment.

Two Reflections, One Lesson

I once overheard my wife on the phone with her sister. She was talking about how I had stepped in to help her with a personal burden she was carrying. In the middle of the conversation, I heard her sister say, “My husband would have wished me luck and sent me on my way.”

My first thought? “I’m a good husband—maybe better than her sister’s husband.” That reflection felt good. It stroked my pride. It was like glancing in the mirror and thinking, “Yeah, I look pretty sharp today.”

But then another reflection came into focus. I thought about how helpful my wife is—not just to me, but to everyone around her. She’s the kind of person who always shows up for her family, her friends, and her community. And I realized… how could I not do the same for her?

That moment showed me something important: there are always two reflections of who we are.

• The first reflection makes us feel good. It pats us on the back and says, “You’re doing well.”

• The second reflection challenges us. It calls us higher. It says, “You can do better, because the people around you deserve better.”

Here’s the truth: none of us can see ourselves without reflection. Outwardly, we rely on mirrors, photos, or videos to know what we look like. Inwardly, we rely on the responses of others to see who we are becoming. If people feel peace in your presence, that reflection is telling you something. If they feel tension or distance, that reflection is speaking, too.

The Bible puts it like this: “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” (Proverbs 27:19)

Your reflection—both the one you like and the one that makes you uncomfortable—isn’t there to shame you. It’s there to shape you.

So here’s my challenge: This week, pay attention to your reflections. Notice how people respond to your words, your presence, and your actions. Then ask yourself: Which reflection am I going to live by—the one that flatters me, or the one that makes me better?

Because at the end of the day, your reflection will always shape your direction.