Cognitive dissonance was something I learned to live with at an early age. My sense of self has never been incredibly stable. Or rather it was never positive. I don't consider myself intelligent, worthy, or capable. I knew these beliefs had been drilled into my head since I was a child. Now I know and can connect these individual things to a deeper meaning. The mirror self theory was a revelation and a bit of a relief. I understand why I see myself this way. It may not be fair, but that's really how I think others see me. The fact that my interaction with others is central to the development of my sense of self makes perfect sense now. I was abused, raped, suffered multiple traumas, and was hospitalized eight times by the age of 17. It's like a huge wake-up call. And it could very well change my life. All these things I struggled with now make sense and give me hope. As strange as it may seem, it's true. The mirror self theory will help me reevaluate everything I thought I knew and learned in the hospital. It gives me hope that I can change. With this change will come better communication and positivity. I know a lot of people who will be thrilled to see the changes I've made. There's still a lot of work to do, but I've learned all the tools I need to lead a better, more communicative life. This isn't about interpersonal communication but I have confidence now. Talking to myself was a chore for me. Now I have the means to actually carry on a conversation. This course has been a ray of positivity to my soul. I'll continue to work on my weaknesses, but I'm also ready to go out there and put what I've learned to use