Let’s shine some light on a concept that has the power to improve every aspect of your life, from your career to your relationships. It’s a simple mind shift that can flip the switch on how you see the world and how the world sees you.
It’s called the Mirror Effect.
The Mirror Effect is a psychological theory that suggests your thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors are reflected back to you. The energy you put out, positive or negative, is echoed back to you in the same form.
For example, imagine starting your day with a positive attitude. You smile at people, you greet your coworkers with enthusiasm, and you approach your daily tasks with optimism and excitement. As a result, you get friendly responses, a cooperative team, and put out a high-energy vibration that attracts positivity from those around you.
On the flip side, you start your day in a bad mood, expecting things to go wrong, and coming across as irritable and disengaged. This creates an environment of frustration and conflict, not only perpetuating your bad mood but also spreading it to those you interact with.
Negativity begets negativity. Positivity attracts positivity.
The Mirror Effect is a reminder that your internal state of being influences your external reality. So, it’s safe to say that if you want to enjoy healthier relationships, a more fulfilling career, and overall contentment and happiness, the work starts from within.
Here are five ways to build a strong, positive internal foundation so you can positively shape the world around you.
1- Practice Self-Awareness: Being self-aware isn’t a skill most people have, despite what they’d like to think. According to a study by Tasha Eurich, an organizational psychologist, only 10-15% of people are truly self-aware. Self-awareness allows you to see how your actions and behaviors influence those around you. By looking in the “mirror,” you can better shape your interactions and environment in a way that reciprocates the energy you want to receive from the world.
2- Create a Positive Space: Your environment has a direct impact on your mood. Would you rather be working outside on a sunny day, or in an office under a flickering halogen light? If possible, do what you can to create a peaceful atmosphere wherever you are. You could play soft music that lifts your mood, put an air-purifying plant in your office, or burn a candle that makes you feel calm. Your surroundings influence your serenity, which in turn projects your inner state outwardly. Create calm to project calm.
3- Strengthen Emotional Intelligence: Research by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found people with high emotional intelligence are better at recognizing and interpreting the emotional states of others. This ability improves interpersonal relationships and professional success. Practicing the Mirror Effect can improve your emotional intelligence by encouraging you to reflect on your emotional responses before acting impulsively. Remember, how you respond to situations is often reflected back at you.
4- Project a Positive Posture: You know how important body language is when it comes to how people perceive you. But did you know, according to a Harvard University study, it also influences how you perceive yourself and other people? If you keep an open, inviting posture, you’re projecting positivity, which boosts your mood and makes you feel more confident. This makes you more approachable to others and encourages them to respond positively. By being open and feeling confident, you create a positive feedback loop, where the positivity you project is given back to you.
5- Adopt a Mantra: Using a personal mantra, a word or phrase you repeat to yourself, can help focus your mind and maintain positivity when you feel like you might be losing your cool. Research from the Journal of Clinical Psychology shows that mantra repetition can reduce stress and increase emotional stability, creating a positive internal state that influences what’s going on around you. The next time someone cuts you off in traffic or takes the last chocolate muffin at your coffee shop, repeat your mantra to help put the situation back into perspective.
Action Step
This week, make note of how your attitude and actions influence the people around you. For every negative interaction, reflect on how your internal state might have contributed to the outcome. Consider what you could have done differently to project more positivity and improve the situation. Write down your reflections to identify any patterns you find in how you deal with conflict or uncomfortable situations.
Do the same if you notice how your positive reaction, despite any initial negative thoughts, helped diffuse a situation and how it influenced the rest of your day.
As you become more attuned to your inner state, you’ll begin to see how even small shifts in positivity can transform your world.
Life is going to happen as it happens, the good and the bad. And while you can’t always control what happens on the outside, you can make the conscious effort to focus on your reactions and inner thoughts so they reflect the positivity you want to get back.
Wishing you a future filled with positive reflections!
