The World as a Mirror

It's like you're my mirror,
my mirror staring back at me.
I couldn't get any bigger,
with anyone else beside of me.
And now it's clear as this promise,
that we're making two reflections into one.
'Cause it's like you're my mirror,
my mirror staring back at me, staring back at me.
(Justin Timberlake, Mirrors)

Over the last 14 years or so, I had a strange experience at work. There is a colleague who appeared to be the opposite of me. When I approached all my work problems with an engineering attitude, he approached everything with a creative mind set. I used to be an introvert, he is an extrovert. Perhaps given this backdrop our conclusions always ended up on opposite sides of the spectrum. After a lot of initial frustration we just both tried to stay away from each other as far as possible, but fate decided otherwise.

A lot has changed over the years. Today we continue to have somewhat of an arms-length relationship but we have figured out that the union of our styles and ideas is really, really powerful. While I can't speak for my friend, I can only say that I look forward to every moment we spend together. There is creativity in our interaction and there is insight. He still is my complement, but I always see purpose in our interactions. I am bound by my perceived role as a light-worker so I would never tear down anything (or anyone for that matter) proactively, whereas he has no such hang-ups. However, I never question or attack his game plan. Similarly, he would never touch the projects I am working on, but once I do, he always does his best to run with these ideas. It is almost as if we complete each other; the team effort is whole and perfect: plus and minus, dark and light, yin and yang all combined as one.

When you hear Justin Timberlake's mirrors lyrics you probably think of a lover, but fact of the matter is that every interaction you have is an encounter of two poles. Always face whoever comes your way.If someone reaches out to you, deal with the situation to the best of your abilities. Chances are you stare into a mirror image of sorts, whether you like it or not. And chances are you can both heal each other. Sometimes you meet a mirror image and sometimes you get attracted by the opposite force, like it happened with my friend at work. Accept the union, get lost in the situation and see how you both made yet another big step towards wholeness.