Byron's Babbles

I am a very reflective person and yesterday morning a post I did from June 1st in 2023 came up in the content time capsule. I love, by the way, that WordPress does those blasts from the past for me. The post was entitled Being Reflective. I still love the quote in that post from a participant in one of my workshops about a temporary tattoo she did. She said, “I placed it there (on her neck) because the only way I can see it is in a reflection and this reminds me that to be self aware I need to be reflective.” Being self aware and reflective are both very important for us to be focused leaders.

I’ve been wanting to do a post about the great Architects’ song “Broken Mirror” and that blast from the past from 2023 gave me the inspiration to get it done. The song evokes a sense of longing, introspection, and vulnerability that I have been pondering writing about for a while. The chorus of the song goes like this: “Take me to the place where the heavens are haunted; And I’ll pray to the cross you bear; Tell me, if I gavе you the world would you meet me therе?; Do you see me now?; The lights are out; I’m a broken mirror.” There is a lot to unpack there and the reason why I love great rock artists. Those artistic lines can mean many different things and provide inspiration to many different people.

For me, the reference to heaven expresses a desire to reach a place of emotional or spiritual significance. Heaven, which is a real place for me, symbolizes hope, peace, or understanding. These lines also indicate gestures of empathy or seeking connection with those who are burdened or suffering. This is so important when we, as leaders, focus on others. Asking if giving the world would be enough to meet them highlights a desire for genuine connection beyond material or superficial offerings. It is about us and the people we serve looking into the mirror.

Awe, then the lines, “Do you see me now? The lights are out, I’m a broken mirror” reflect feelings of invisibility, despair, or feeling shattered. A broken mirror can symbolize a fractured sense of self or identity, and the darkness suggests emotional struggles or loneliness. Mirrors are important tools for the focused leader because self knowledge and self reflection are critical for leading ourselves and others. If we become broken mirrors we won’t be effective leading others. To help prevent our breaking, it’s important to nurture self-compassion and resilience.

The first thing we need to do is Practice Self-Kindness by treat ourselves with the same kindness and grace we’d offer those we serve. This means acknowledging our own and others’ feelings without judgment. Relationships are also important here. We need people who listen, understand, and uplift us. And we need to do the same for others. Connection helps reinforce our sense of self.

Even if the mirror gets cracked sometimes, it doesn’t have to shatter completely. With care and support, we can repair and strengthen it.