I was having lunch in Central London last week and when I looked around everyone seemed to be a zombie.

Not a literal one, from the movies, but like robots. They would come into the restaurant, most times by themselves, with headphones on, get their food from self-serve, pay with contactless, sit down, and start watching something on their phones, while eating. When they were done, they would clear their place, and leave. No human interaction the whole time. And this was the case for the majority of them.

I felt sad.

Mirroring Back

Since everything is a mirror of ourselves, I first asked myself: where in my life, do I feel like a robot?

That’s certainly the case when I am super busy and I don’t prioritize self care. This past month, I was away for 2 of the 4 weeks, traveling, learning, facilitating and so all the work got crammed mostly in those two weeks in between, and I lost sight of my self care.

The point is, we’re not always going to be perfect. Or not even good. But the gold is in our ability to notice our thoughts, feelings, the sensations in our body. The way we perceive and interpret the world around us is influenced by our internal state. The external world is a feedback mechanism. If we find ourselves judging others or being triggered by the same thing on the news/situations/people, it may be an opportunity to examine our own expectations, biases, or unresolved issues.

For me, seeing all these people like robots, reminded me of my corporate days, when I was a robot. Those days are behind me, but aspects of that life – the constant focus on the work and little time for personal care and development – can still show up at times, because it’s familiar behavior.

Practical Application

When that happens, it’s an opportunity for awareness and observation: What is the external world telling me about my current state and needs? What about my boundaries?

The practical application lies in examining them, then revisit our values and intentions, and consciously aligning them with our actions, recognizing the reciprocal relationship between our inner self and the reality we shape. Ultimately, the world as a mirror invites us to actively participate in the co-creation of our experiences by cultivating self-awareness and making intentional choices in our daily lives.

So if you feel like it, take a moment to pause, reflect, and ask yourself: What do the events in my life reveal about my beliefs and aspirations? How can I actively shape the reflection I wish to see in the world around me?

With each conscious choice, you contribute to your external reality and to a life that resonates with your authenticity. The world is your mirror—what reflections will you intentionally create today?