When was the last time you looked in the mirror and told yourself that you were beautiful? (Really… THAT long ago?)
On the other hand, if it was just this morning, pat yourself on the back at being able to choose positive thinking over negative thinking!
So many of us are in the habit of looking in the mirror and focusing on what is imperfect with ourselves as opposed to focusing on our uniqueness. I truly believe that this bad habit does as much damage to us as it would smoking, and that we must practice new and healthier habits of being able to look into the mirror and say: I love me just the way I am!
For years I would not be able to look into a mirror: I hated the way I looked and couldn’t deal with my own reflection. I would focus on every little red dot on my face and want to hide it from everyone. I avoided attention, chose to numb myself out by taking drugs, and begged my mum to keep me home from school because I believed was ugly. Being uncomfortable in my own skin was something that would take years of cognitive exercises to overcome, but I finally did it!
I’d like to say it ends with the teenage years of changing hormones—but for women it returns as we approach “the Change.” (What I refer to personally as the Meno-pocalypse!)
As we age, we are forced to focus more on what is internally beautiful about ourselves while our bodies change. We need to take extra special care of ourselves as we move through this stressful changing time: our hormones are having a goodbye party and you’re the last one to get an invitation! Then we have to run out and find a dress, but no dress will fit because our body called and left a message that it’s stuck in traffic, and won’t be available any time soon.(Love that analogy? hehe)
Our bodies change, but our hearts and spirit evolve and bloom…if we choose to pay attention to what we need and love ourselves.
One effective way to become more loving to ourselves is to do Mirror Work. Mirror work is intense, but it is effective. It’s time to honour yourself and increase your inner value, and this can be achieved through Mirror Work.
If you could only see what I see, you’d love yourself a whole freakin’ bunch!
With Love & Creativity,
x Laurie
