Mirrorless Self Discovery

Mirrors only show our outer layer, but our energy—the way we radiate, move, and impact others—that’s what truly speaks. When we stop obsessing over our reflection, we can start to embody our essence.

I bet within the first 30 minutes of the day, we’ve already seen our reflection — whether on our phone or in a mirror.

But what would life feel like without a mirror?

Whether you know me or not, I’m a big traveler, with the intention of making the world my classroom. More so, I am the #1 advocate for self-discovery. To me, life is all about self-discovery. This entire platform is based on self-discovery and heart-led journeys. I like to make myself uncomfortable. I befriended change like 5 years ago...

Anyhow, for the past six months, I lived in Oaxaca, Mexico, and not only did I not have hot water, but I also had no mirror in the house I was renting. At first, it was weird. What if I walked out with a huge whitehead? A booger? What if my outfit didn’t look good? My hair?

Most people would run out to buy a mirror, assuming this was an inconvenience. But for me, I didn't feel called to run and buy a mirror. At the end of the day, this became a profound lesson in self-acceptance and intuition.

For those six months, I rarely had any idea what my physical appearance looked like — and let me tell you, not having a mirror to judge myself drastically transformed how I view myself. We let our physical appearance determine 99% of how we feel about ourselves — I know I have. But this unexpected opportunity allowed me to focus on FEELING instead of LOOKING. It was radical.

I leaned into it. Instead of wondering how I looked, I asked myself, “Does this outfit make me FEEL good?” And every time I eventually saw my reflection in a café mirror later in the day, I looked — of course — iconic. But even then, the mirror didn't have much power over me. One time, I was walking around with a friend in town. We walked into a jewelry store, and as we passed a mirror, she stopped—I didn’t. I watched as her energy shifted in an instant. Insecurity washed over her face as she stared at her reflection. She turned to me and said, ‘Wait… I don’t actually look that cute." It was in that exact moment when I realized how powerful this "mirrorless" journey has been. It has helped me release self-doubt and welcome self-love.

This shift became a game changer. Now, I feel that much more comfortable playing dress up in my body, which is surely a work in progress.

I felt more seen than ever — without a mirror.

Be mindful of how much time you spend in front of a mirror. We often default to harsh self-criticism. Without a mirror, I practiced watering that fiery voice. I relied on my own senses rather than external validation from a mirror. And if I really needed to check myself, I’d use my phone camera or a quick glance in my bronzer mirror.

Now, I’m back in the town where I grew up. I have three mirrors in my bedroom alone, and there’s one in almost every room of the house. It feels overwhelming, to say the least. And with it, I notice the judgment creeping back in.

But I’m still working on it — focusing on feeling rather than just taking my reflection at face value.

So for me and for you: Remember, we are so much more than our physical appearance. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. Trust your feelings. 

Xoxo,

Chels