People don’t really change they just start to reflect who they really are. Why would I start out with such a negative statement? In life how often do we have to hide who we are so we are not discovered. The problem is how long can we as individuals really continue to look at ourselves in the mirror without seeing who we really are. Are we kind, are we loving, are we forgiving, are we angry, are we disappointed? How many times do we say things with a smile after being told the most horrible thoughts from our loved ones and even worse not from our loved ones. How do we lift up the shade and reveal our deepest concerns? Does it start to happen when we have heartbreak? Do we expose ourselves to save our own dignity. What does a person have to face in order to be simply “real”. And is being simply ‘real’ not as easy to be as we would imagine it would be. Who do you have that you can tell your darkest secrets to and know that you won’t be judged? For me, Jesus is my secret holder. He is the one who knows all my thoughts and has gladly signed His name over each of my thoughts that aren’t so great, my actions that can’t be easily forgiven or my desires that will never be discussed out loud. Who is my fleshy confidant? Right now in my life that would be my husband on most days. He holds many of my secrets, my mean thoughts, my embarrassing moments and my desires to really self-reflect and be realistic on what I can and can’t do or rather, what I should or shouldn’t do. Again… I say, after seeing a few close individuals from a simply “real” prespective people don’t really change, they just start to reflect to “others’ who they really are.
Wendy's Words 
This comment is not deep in it’s length but in it’s content- ” When some one shows you her/himself…believe it! My mother told me that during puberty when I was discovering fiends, associates and acquaintances…yes 13! I have not forgotten that and realize that people project who they really are in when in a tight spot, uncomfortable situation. I have learned that it is okay to be uncomfortable, in other words, being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Self-reflection teaches that and honoring your true feelings, thoughts and responding accordingly is valuable to self. I give glory to God through Jesus Christ and the Helper (Holy Spirit) for helping me see the real me and knowing that He got me on any given day to help me get better at my relationships and fulfill His purpose and for my life.
This is something I had to learn with age. I also had t go through many hard times in order for me to really learn on my own. Like you, I turn To Jesus with all my problems, embarrassing moments, and happy moments. It was during that time when I really started to be okay with being alone. I ALWAYS feared being alone since I never have been. I grew up in a full house, had many classmates, some close friends. I was recently reminded of myself when I had a patient that didn’t want to accept his treatment plan. It wasn’t our fault we just tell you what you need for better health. He gave the doctor and I a few choice words and left. He insulted more then my pride, he made it clear he was going for my confidence in my job. I went to the bathroom, got on my knees and thanked God for keeping my mouth shut. I was proud of myself, It was clear I was adulting. Practicing forgiveness is HARD! I guess everyone has their weakness. I suffered with this realization for years. I’m still working on it ,but I’m MUCH better then I used to be. Being real with myself about letting go took me years to accept. It isn’t easy playing fake, I do that for no one, until I realized I was doing it for myself to make myself feel better. Now, I’m able to face myself in the mirror. I can smile from a honest place now, and it feels better.
One of my favorite sitcoms was Martin. He would you a line often in various episodes…”keepin it real Tommy” when talking about himself to his good friend Tommy. It always made me laugh. Now, when I read “Self Reflect” and see about being real to yourself it brings me to a place that most people do not like to think about or talk about at parties, who am I? I can tell you who I think I am. I am a middle age, handsome (yep I said it), black man with a good head on my shoulders, and an okay body below the head. I am a very loving, compassionate, caring man that is not afraid to cry when tears come, but man enough to rip the heart of a lion out to protect my family. I am a God fearing man that knows God’s path is what I am on and it is hard to remain on that path. But I would rather face this path then to get off his path for my life and face those fears. I have depression, sadness, loneliness, and challenges in my life that I lean on him to help guide me. Not a day goes past that I do not thank him and praise him for every breath I take and move I make. To God be the glory. But the question still remains, Who am I? Life is hard, people are not always nice. Life does not always go the way you want it to go and it tends to mold us into something what really are not. Knowing yourself and who you truly are is going to be valuable in your life, it has been in mine. It has help me to make some very tough choices that if I did not know me I would have made the wrong choice. So do I truly know who I am. Only God knows who I truly am. He knows my heart, mind, and soul 24/7. What I know about me is that I truly love My Lord and Savior. My wife knows me based on what she sees, and what she feels for her from me. But we all know the term “out of sight, out of mind”, It stands true majority of the time but it never stands true in the Lord. He always see’s us for who we truly are, beside we were created by him. I too, like the author, keep my wife close on most days. I keep my loving sister close as well, but it is God who is close everyday. So I challenge you, if you are reading this and do not truly know who you are, it is time to change that.Get to know yourself and who you are. It will help in so many ways. Now I have to go back to life and Keepin it real….