Title: The Social Mirror

Purpose: To identify how others perceptions and views have affected and shaped our personalities, identities and self-image.

Resources: This essay is a reflection exercise.

Activity Instructions:

To recognize the potential inaccuracy or incompetence of the “social mirror,” or others’ opinions of you as a person, take a moment to reflect on how the social mirror has affected you. Reflect back on all aspects of your life: personal (dealing with family and friends, roommates, neighbors, significant others), academic (teachers, coaches, classmates), and professional (bosses, co-workers, subordinates, mentors) to examine what influence others have had on your self-image and other areas of importance to you (community, religion, sports, etc.).

Answer the questions below in comprehensive, complete sentences. Do not provide brief answers. Instead, compose at least 4-5 full sentences (i.e., a full paragraph) that answer each of the posed thought-provoking discussions.

1. What would others say about you that is generally positive?

2. What “constructive suggestions” would others offer to help you improve or change?

3. What do you most like about yourself?

4. What do you most dislike in yourself and would like to change?

5. What beliefs to you have about yourself that limit you?

6. How might these beliefs have been created or influenced by your social mirror?

7. Since it is possible – perhaps even likely – that these weaknesses or limitations are more imagined than real, what could you do to turn them into strengths?

8. Who could help you make these changes or give you feedback about your progress?

9. Were any questions more difficult to complete than others? Which ones and why?

10. What did you learn about yourself in this exercise?