Change Begins in the Mirror: The First Step Toward Transformation

If you want change, it begins with the person in the mirror.

Let me share the dream.

I was standing at the admissions desk of a college, speaking with a woman behind the counter. I explained that I needed to withdraw from my second-semester chemistry course because I wanted to change my major. I asked whether I could replace the class with something else. If not, I explained, I would need to find a job instead.

She looked at me and said she could not help me.

I then asked if there was anything in writing that explained how to change majors or adjust my class schedule. She opened a drawer, handed me a brochure, and returned to what she was doing. When I looked through it, I realized it did not contain the information I needed.

Then she turned and walked away.

I felt discouraged and uncertain. As I stood there wondering what to do next, a young woman who had been waiting in line behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Come with me."

I followed her down the hall and into the women's restroom.

There, she led me directly to a mirror. Attached to the mirror was a brochure. She pointed to it, and in that moment, the dream ended.

I woke feeling unsettled, weary, and burdened with a headache.

Later, with a strong cup of coffee in hand, I sat down with a book I had been reading on the subject of change. For much of my life, I have studied and researched change, seeking to understand it not only for my own growth but also so I might help others navigate it as well.

As I reflected on the dream, clarity came. I picked up my pen and began to write.

The Lord impressed upon my heart that we often look in the wrong places and to the wrong people for answers. He may send individuals into our lives to point us in the right direction, but the work of transformation cannot be done for us.

True change begins when we are willing to look honestly at ourselves. It begins in the mirror.

It begins in those quiet moments alone with God, when we surrender our defenses, face our shortcomings, and trust Him to guide us forward.

You may be wondering about the brochure attached to the mirror. For me, it was confirmation. It affirmed that the message I am sharing today is one I am meant to write and speak about. The answer I was seeking was never going to come from the admissions desk. It was waiting where real change has always begins, in reflection, humility, and honest self-examination before God.

And perhaps, if you are reading this, the message is for you as well.

Maybe it is time to face the person in the mirror.

You can take that journey alone, or you can invite a trusted friend, mentor, counselor, or coach to walk beside you.

Either way, that is where transformation begins.

That is the true starting point.