Which Life Lesson Are You Observing As You Watch The Olympics Unfold?
“Life is the mirror reflecting back to us, who we really are.”
The Olympics have been playing for only 6 short days, and already we find a plethora of newspaper clippings, news casts, and media reports on these games, on China as a country, and on its beautiful people.
A number of life lessons have unfolded for the world to learn from, if we take a moment to reflect beyond the picture that appears on the screen or the words that fill the many pages.
One particular newspaper article caught my eye and one specific television newscast had my ears perked up - they were both touching upon a similar subject but in two different contexts.
The newspaper article was speaking of the walls that had been put up around certain areas for so called advertising purposes, yet the true purpose of these walls was to hide the poverty and the less favorable. On the other hand, the newscast was voicing the concern over the fact that the young girl singing at the opening ceremonies was not in fact the real singer, but had been put on the stage because of a preferable physical appearance.
In both those situations there were negative comments directed at China and its culture for engaging in such behavior. However, what could be the lesson or the awareness to be gained here?
I believe these situations are simply a mirror reflecting to each of us as individuals, what we frequently do on a smaller scale to ourselves.
Most people walk around in this world wearing some sort of mask, rather than being their authentic selves because they believe that the mask is more acceptable.
How often have you not been true to yourself? How often have you attempted to present a more perfect you, because you felt on the inside that you were not good enough, not smart enough, not beautiful or handsome enough? In fact by trying to be more perfect you, you were hiding your real perfection and beauty.
I would say that being out integrity with yourself - with whom you really are - is as much of a “crime” as the Chinese people who are trying to hide parts of their surroundings. Who has not at one time or another attempted to display their best self to their family or their friends, by not expressing their true feelings, their desires, or their opinions because he or she wanted to be accepted?
In this case it was an attempt to present a perfect image to the world?
Through various experiences, I have come to understand that the world offers us mirrors in every situation - when we are with our friends - at work - at play and so on. This time the mirror’s reflection is simply very large because of the magnitude of this special event - the Olympics.
“Our environment, the world in which we live and work, is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations.” Earl Nightingale
My question today is - How can each of us be more authentic and in integrity with ourselves and then with the world?
Your friend and mentor along the way,
Lynette Chartier
And let me leave you with this gift - Go to http://www.10stepstosuccess.com and download a free copy of “10 Steps On The Journey to Success and Personal Development”. Through new thinking you can see your desired Life change.
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Tags: attitudes, China, integrity, lessons, life lessons, masks, mirror, olympics