Some mornings, I look in the mirror and recognize myself instantly. Other times, I stare a little longer, wondering if the person looking back is really me or just a version of myself I’ve learned to perform for the world.

We spend so much time trying to become who we think we should be. We adjust our attitudes, filter our feelings, and sometimes silence our truth just to keep things looking “together.” But the mirror? The mirror doesn’t lie. It shows you everything the tired eyes, the brave smile, the scars you hide under foundation and the ones still tucked away in your heart.

The question is: when you look in the mirror, do you see yourself or do you see what life has shaped you into?

We grow up saying, “I’m not going to be like my parents.” We say it so confidently, convinced that we’ll do things differently, better, softer, louder ; whatever it is. But truthfully? I am my mother’s daughter. I may not act like her or do things exactly her way, but in my own way without even realizing it I end up doing the exact same things. The love I give, the strength I carry, the way I show up for people it’s her. It’s always been her. And I’ve come to love that reflection.

Lately, I’ve been asking myself these questions not from a place of judgment, but from a place of curiosity. Because I want to truly know myself not just the woman I show on Instagram, not just the titles I carry (daughter, student, employee, dreamer), but the soul underneath it all. The one who laughs too loud, overthinks sometimes, loves hard, and keeps evolving even when she feels stuck.

We’re all a blend of past wounds and present wins. But I believe the more honest we are about what we see and feel the closer we get to becoming who we were always meant to be.

So, let me ask you…

Who do you see when you look in the mirror?
Not who they expect. Not who you pretend to be.
But you.

If your reflection feels unfamiliar right now, give yourself grace. You’re not lost you’re still unfolding. And that version in the mirror, is worth loving at every stage.