As Kara did her mirror work she noticed how her REFLECTION in the mirror was an exact “mirror” of her body’s motions. Thousands of hours of head butts, knees, elbows and strikes, and yet it had never occurred to her that no matter how much she sped up, or “tricked” her motions, she could never beat the girl in the mirror. It was just a fact, she was seeing what really is, and that was perfection.
All at once she sat down on the mat and gazed at her reflection. Her muscular body was one of thousands of hours, diet, and workout in her MMA gym. She scrunched her nose, “Was it cute?” Kara’s face had a couple of scars where her opponents had cut her face over her career. She thought she would like to grow her hair out someday, “Maybe after she retired next year…Yes next year she’d let it grow!” She made crazy faces, and after a while just stared.
Then she started to laugh…shutting out the background noise of fighters, just like her, pounding heavy bags, jumping jump ropes, striking speed bags, and falling on the mat as bodies were constantly being thrown into the fight. She was just who she was in that mirror, nothing more, nothing less. REFLECTION all of a sudden took on a new meaning.
As she sat down sweat rolled slowly down her cheek, and hit the training mat everything was now in focus, maybe for the first time in her life. She was who she was at that moment, and that was perfect. This new found clarity gave her what she was looking for…Perfection.
The following week, Kara defeated her opponent, winning a regional title in her weight class and retired.
Just like Kara, are we “trying” to be someone we aren’t? Are we obsessed with how we look, our performance, or social standing? REFLECTION in the training mirror is exact in a sense. What we see is what is. How often in life do we not accept what is as perfect?
After all true REFLECTION gives us a picture, a perfect picture, and yet are we able to accept ourselves as perfect at any given moment? If not, what are we waiting for? Who are we waiting for to show up? My challenge to all warriors of life, “Take off the Instagram filters and just be.” Be what you may ask? Be perfect.
Because when we REFLECT real life, all there is is perfection. REFLECT, and see what there is to see, and see you are perfect…
Allen Hughes Life Defense Coach
#lifedefense #reflect #allenhughes
