Mirrors are akin to the human mind and the human form, in how they reflect the self— even if broken, a whole picture is striking, factual. A picture of you, and of I. Mirrors are rigid in what they reflect, showing only the truth in front of them.
Mirrors are often used to strive for perfection. The perfect hair, perfect outfit, perfect makeup. Allowing you to catch glimpses of how you look in the hallway mirror before you step out the door, how you look before you wash your face in the morning in the bathroom. Keeping up a slice of perfection, the mirror is a crucial part to many. Perfection’s definition may be different, for you and I, but the mirror gives you a slice of freedom to express your definition, the ability to see the consequences of your choice, good or bad.
For some however, the mirror just reminds you of how little choice you have. Perhaps you wish your hair were longer, wish you were thinner, wish you could get rid of the bags underneath your eyes or the wrinkling of your skin. You may pick apart the unchangeable things about yourself, or the ones you wish to change but can’t. Wishing, so deeply you could uphold your definition of perfect, or that the mirror wasn’t so truthful in its depictions of yourself.
The mirror can’t help making you feel sad, or demoralised, just like the mirror can’t help making you feel perfect, and happy. It just shows you what it sees.
It gives you a choice to look outside yourself for the satisfaction you crave, or the self-hatred you feel like you deserve. Gives you a choice to fix the petty things, or plan out grand ideals with a canvas to work upon. Gives you a choice to berate yourself for every little flaw the mirror reflects at you, a choice to destroy the perfection that you defined for yourself. Gives you a choice to reflect on the inside.
If you dislike a certain, unchangeable thing about yourself, you could change your mind to a state of ‘body neutrality’. That you don’t need your strict definition of perfection. That there are things you can’t change, that the mirror will never lie to you to make you feel better and that’s okay.
Mirrors contribute to a whole picture of yourself, from your appearance to your ideals as they shape who you are, to reflecting on your inner critic, or your inner advocate. A mirror can break, the pricks of glass cutting your skin, reminding you of your flaws, and bringing you pain and sorrow until the pieces are reunited into one self, cracked but still showing the truth. They are your reminder for what we yearn for, our hopes and dreams glancing back at us as we peer into the cool, clear glass.
Mirrors are akin to a human mind, reflecting your objective self, and your uncertain future. All you need to do to find yourself, your true self, your imperfect self, the self you hate, or the self you love, is look.
– Phoenix Irwin
This blog post is in collaboration with the 2025 Beyond the Walls Anthology. The anthology is now available to order from Valley Press here. The cohort behind the anthology have produced high quality work surrounding the publication. You can find similar blog pieces in collaboration with the anthology here on the Where Ideas Grow blog. You can also listen to their podcast episodes on Spotify and find updates on the anthology on their social media platforms, all linked below.