“Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.” – Alan Cohen

You Are More Than Your Mistakes

You know those moments when you look in the mirror and all you can see are your flaws? We all have them. But here’s something beautiful to remember: the people who truly love you have a different mirror. They see the real you—not the version that shows up in your worst thoughts about yourself.

When you’re beating yourself up over a mistake, your loved ones are remembering all the times you got it right. They’re holding onto the image of you at your best, even when you can’t seem to find it yourself. That’s not because they’re wearing rose-colored glasses. It’s because they’ve seen the authentic you that exists beneath the temporary struggles and setbacks. They know your heart.

We often carry around these dark pictures of ourselves—images created from our failures, regrets, and insecurities. We believe these snapshots tell the whole story. But your loved ones have watched the entire movie of your life. They’ve seen your courage, your kindness, your perseverance. They remember your wholeness when you’re feeling broken into pieces. They hold space for your healing because they know it’s possible.

When guilt weighs heavy on your shoulders, the people who care about you recall your innocence—not because they excuse harmful actions, but because they understand your good intentions. They see beyond your missteps to the person who’s trying their best. And during those confusing chapters when you’ve lost your way, they gently remind you of your purpose, your gifts, your unique contributions to this world.

This is the magic of being truly seen and loved. It’s not that others don’t notice your struggles—they do. But they refuse to define you by them. So next time you’re drowning in self-criticism, borrow their vision for a moment. Try seeing yourself through the eyes of someone who loves you. That perspective isn’t fantasy—it might actually be the most accurate view of who you really are.