What's your VERY FIRST THOUGHT whenever you look at yourself in the mirror *or any other reflective surface*?
What does that voice inside your head say to you in those first seconds of catching a glimpse at yourself?
For a lot of us, those first few seconds tell us something like this: "Omgosh, LOOK at that gray hair!" "Where did THOSE wrinkles come from?" "Why can't I look like *insert celebrity name here*? "How did I gain so much weight?" "Ugh."
Sound familiar? They used to be my first thoughts, too!
Are you aware of 'the voice' yet? Have you ever stopped to wonder whose voice it actually IS? I can guarantee that it isn't yours! When we were born, we knew that we were perfect, whole, beautiful and complete - EXACTLY the way we were!!! Not IF we lost 10 lbs. NOT if we had blonde/brown/red hair. NOT if we had so-and-so's eyes/lips/breasts/stomach. Nope. Exactly as we were.
So, how did we transition from knowing, inherently, that we were perfect exactly as we were to this person that rips themselves apart whenever we see our own reflections? "They" did it, right? The kids at school, the media, society and perhaps even our parents - they all played their role, right?
Wrong. We can only believe in what 'they' say if we allow ourselves to buy into what 'they' say! If you watch television, like so many of us do on a regular basis, here's a little assignment that I'd like you to participate in; keep a paper and pen handy and in one hour's of viewing, count the number of commercials that tell us that we're 'not enough'. By 'not enough' I mean; are we too fat, too wrinkled, hair's the wrong color, we need to 'cover' our skin with make-up in order to be presentable, we don't have the right clothes, body isn't well enough...well, you see what I'm getting it, right? Keep track of those commercials and also, while watching, keep count of any commercial that tells us that we're just perfect exactly the way we are and what a great job we're doing! I'll be willing to bet that, without even counting, you know what the answer will be, right? All of those condemning commercials, mixed with all that 'they' had to say about us as we grew up (and often still into adult hood)have found their way into our minds. We believe them; we aren't 'good enough.'
Now, tell me...whose voice IS it when you look into the mirror? Loving yourself in THIS VERY MOMENT, just as you are...not 'if' or 'when' but RIGHT NOW...will open a whole new life for you! We are all unique and that's an amazing thing. We are ALL beautiful. Each and every one of us. When you can look into that mirror and stop 'the voice' from picking you apart, your whole world shifts. Confidence soars. Life becomes easier!
I'm sure you're wondering how to shut 'it' up now, aren't you? Here's what worked for me and many, many others; when you first look into that mirror and 'the voice' says ANYTHING even remotely negative I want you to stop the thought AS SOON AS you catch it; thank 'the voice' for sharing and then say ONE nice thing about yourself as you look at your reflection - preferably into you r own eyes. This MAY feel awkward the first few times you try it but it gets easier every time you do it.
Before long you will no longer hear 'the voice' when you look at your beautiful reflection in the mirror! The voice that replaces it is the voice of love; YOUR voice.
We can't love others freely and completely unless we first learn to love ourselves without condition. We ARE perfect just the way we are. We ARE beautiful right now, in this moment. What you believe becomes your truth. What's your truth? Whose voice do you WANT to hear when you look into the mirror?
You can love yourself and your life starting right now. What are you waiting for?
