I’ll Be Your Mirror

I'll be your mirror
Reflect what you are, in case you don't know…

I find it hard to believe you don't know
The beauty you are…

But if you don't, let me be your eyes
'Cause I see you…

— The Velvet Underground & Nico

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Can you sense how it feels to be truly recognized? Have you ever seen yourself through someone else’s eyes? Have you ever had someone introduce you to one of their friends or colleagues and been humbled by the care and esteem they express? 

As hyper-social human beings, we understand ourselves in relationship with others — other people, objects, plants, animals, and places. As Niko sings in the lyrics above, we are mirrors for each other. 

I believe that my work as a designer, storyteller and strategist lies in being such a mirror. It’s a process of listening, reflecting and creating clarity. This clarity then takes form and gains real-world potency as messaging, visual design, and strategies for connecting with your audience. 

In some ways, it’s an alchemical process. And like all shamans, healers and head-shrinkers, my process takes place within an methodology and a set of practices that bring ideas to the surface and provide them a lattice to take shape as words, symbols and actions.

In the broadest sense, this attention, reflection and recognition, is love.

When we see ourselves clearly, that’s love. When we see the impact of our work clearly, that’s also love. When we are generous enough to share our skills and knowledge in services to others, it is also a form of love.

And most of all, when we get together with our colleagues and choose to act on a vision together — to collectively up our game or start a new venture — that’s powerful love that is amplified by the willingness to navigate the kind of long-term relationship that it takes to make something in this big, complex world.

This Valentine’s Day, I suggest that you notice the ways that your work is attention and love. 

I’ll be your mirror 💌