One of MJs greatest hits was 'man in the mirror' which was about self reflection and improvement.

When is a time you had that person in the mirror change their ways?

I can tell you about a time when I felt a certain way about interracial dating, for instance. I was not really 'into' white guys and didnt know what we would possibly have in common, being that most of the white guys I had been exposed to were fairly 'vanilla' and kind of goofy, from my perspective.

But then, the day came when a trusted friend 'set me up'. She had no concern about race and she (knowing me very well) felt as if we had alot in common. So I went and she turned out to be correct. For one, there was a devotion to family that we both shared. There was also a love for music, and a love of laughter, and a certain type of 'swag' he had from having come from a life of struggle as immigrant to this country (He was Yugoslavian).

To be honest, he was different than what I had been exposed to at that point, but once I met him, it seemed as if I saw more and more 'white' guys like him and realized that 'white' is not a character trait or appearance, or an indication of what values or interests a person will have, only a reflection of ancestry.

Its like when you get a certain color car because you think its unique, and then you suddenly notice that color car everywhere. My eyes were opened to the reality that the reason I had not 'seen' similarities before was because I was in a mind frame to only see the differences.


There is a cliche that perception is reality and all we have to do to change our reality is change how we perceive it, but I think thats too simplistic. I think in order to change perception, we have to change surroundings and experience new things that can activate the change.


When have you looked at the man/woman in the mirror and decided to change something about an area of ignorance?

Continually. I'm forever changing and growing as a person. One day I might think one way about a situation because that's all I know of it, then learn about it from another perspective and change my mind.

awesome

As I move through life and the years come and go I realize those things which challenge me, those things that provoke and emotionally take a hold of me - happiness, anger, sadness, the like or the dislike of others around me (those things that make you stronger, smarter and self-reflective) - continuously morph me into something sometimes I didn't know I would become. I am always searching and growing and judging myself - maybe coming closer to the better me that my heart wants. I hope so. I'm learning. I'm always looking for this soft place to land...this place where there is this beautiful balance.
And well...still looking...

lovely

lol, Im saying im no longer 'not into' white guys. Im into guys from all races.

'O9 after my 4 DUI. And I'm not just saying that for effect! Was a long and serous process of rewiring a lot of ******** obtained from society and piers.

Yep.. color isn't as important as the character

Mirror reminds me of something.. the past amd the present.. the improvement.. the people behind.. everything

Mirrors show a reflection.
The images can be jaded by delusions unless one actually 'sees' the reflection as it is. It requires a degree of honesty.

Introspection can also be jaded by delusions. It requires a reflection on the raw reality to reveal one's true nature to one self.

Retrospection is not always required to find harmony within.
It helps but sometimes it can do more damage than good.
We are all the "current edition" of everything we were in the past.
Retrospection can cause a reversion of personality that can be hard to overcome.

It requires an inflection to gain the wisdom our memories hold.
Not so much a memory of an event as an understanding of the lessons the memories teach.

I have three mirrors in my life.
The bedroom mirror
The bathroom mirror
The hall mirror by the door.
I do not linger before any of them.

Baby animals will react to mirrors in any number of ways according to their nature.
That is because they have not grasped the concept of reflections.
After they understand it is merely a reflection most will lose interest.

Mirrors can be used for other things as well.
Used with limited light sources to give more light.
Used as a means of expanding the perception of a small room.
Used as an erotic pleasure in the bedroom.
Used as a cautionary surveillance to see past normal sight lines.

I have had conversations with people using a mirror and they had no idea I was actually looking at them till they look in the mirror too.

When I was a kid, my aunt had an infinity mirrored bathroom.
I thought it was cool.
Some people get creeped out by infinity mirrors.

Looking down a surface of a mirror can make people appear to be floating in mid air, cars have two fronts, all kinds of strange things that can't be seen in reality.

Now I have to go watch Mirrors (2008).

Is that really the subject?

Because what seems to be of more importance in the OP is:

So is it really about the man/woman in the mirror?
Or is it about the importance of efforts, communication, and relationships with others that provide feedback against who we think we are?

It seems the questions shouldn't be:
"When have you looked at the man/woman in the mirror and decided to change something about an area of ignorance? "

so much as something like "when have you looked at the image of yourself friends/family/partners/acquaintances/business relationships/strangers paint for you and it has led to change."
Or maybe when relationships forced you to change.

That's pretty much a constant thing and partly the reason why relationships (face to face kind, not the bs internet/im/text pseudo relationships) matter so much.

Without real feedback from others, you are just living in a bubble whose sphere is only what you can feel safe controlling and believing.

Along with some honesty & integrity. Commitment to ones integrity is key.