When you look in the mirror what do you see?
Some days it’s not easy.
You look at your reflection in the mirror and feel an onslaught of thoughts, many of them negative as the lizard brain sings its song of seduction.
Maybe you barely look, glancing just long enough to comb your hair, brush your teeth or apply make-up.
Or maybe you use one of those scary magnifying mirrors so that all you can see are your parts.
eyes. . .brows. . .nose. . .ears. . .lips. . .teeth. . .skin. . . limbs
“If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?” – Rumi
And you are irritated by those parts; the ones you judge and assess, or compare against others.
Do you ever really see YOU?
Some days it’s not easy.
I know. I get it. But I have a different view.
I see the you that you rarely see. I see the part that burns, waiting to erupt and unleash the full force of who you are.
That you? Is whole and complete and has no comparison.
And that you is so easy to love.
If you could only see what I see. . .
You might begin to love the skin you’re in.
You could imagine a new future like never before.
You might even fall in love with your Self.
“I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.” – Hafiz
Just for today – look beyond all your parts.
See the whole – mind, body and spirit.
See the beauty – that stares back from your eyes.
Just for today – see your value.
You have a gift to offer the world, and now is the time to give it.
Over to you:
- Spend a minute or two with yourSelf in the mirror.
- Look closely, first at the parts; then step back and see the whole you.
- Notice your reactions.
Prompted by A Year With Myself, a year-long adventure in empowerment.
Sandi, I really appreciated this post, because the last couple of months I’ve focused far more on reaching goals that are not related to my appearance, weight loss, etc. Things like being more creative every day, being aware of my inner world and emotions, and simply appreciating and celebrating my healthy. For the first time in a long time, I don’t look in the mirror and feel horrified by a breakout on my face, or the bits of aging becoming evident. Instead, I accept where I am at with pimples, wrinkles etc.. It has been truly amazing to realize how much more healing acceptance of myself is, rather than the usual self-judgement and resulting depression. Glad you recognize the importance too!
I like that you’re celebrating your ‘healthy’ too 🙂
I’m pretty sure ‘celebrate your health’ is the next ‘keep calm and carry on’! ; )
How about ‘Celebrate you and Carry on’?
This is exactly what I needed to read right at this very moment.
don’t you love how that happens? Thank you Sandi! Just simply that. thank you. x o
I do love when that happens! No coincidence 🙂
Oh yeah, that blankety blank mirror. I’ve had quite the tussle with it recently, as readers of my blog know. When I had my crisis of not recognizing that person in the mirror (or in the video in my case), the only part I recognized were my eyes. Phew! What a relief. I hadn’t entirely disappeared. And of course the eyes are the window to the soul. That’s the enduring, eternal, most important, most divine part of us — the soul. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could relate to each other and to ourselves as spiritual souls and not get distracted by the temporary human body?
Whenever I’ve had one of those days and could barely look at myself, I got in real close to the mirror and noticed how beautiful my eyes were. They always brought me back to some semblance of self-love, even when I felt most challenged.
Love this post, as always. Your writing is so comfortable, comforting and yet action inspiring! Thank you!
A funny thing has happened. Since the day I discovered (admitted? accepted?) that my super power is “small” back in December, a number of things have happened. My stomach ailments seem to have completely disappeared, my face has not had a breakout, I see myself as both calm and fiery at the same time.
It feels good to be in my skin.
Except, of course, when I’m doing bookkeeping, but that’s a conversation for another day.
I finally stopped fighting the thing that gives me my most strength and my whole body is happy about it. Yay!
Hugs and butterflies,
~Teresa~
Thank you for sharing this Teresa. It’s this kind of story that leaves me certain that the body doesn’t lie; that’s the lizard brain’s job 😉
This is a great post Sandi. It took me a long time to even want to look into a mirror.
It may not be for the same reasons, but I think we all have those days Jason. Something to explore further because it speaks to me of humanity.
Yes, Sandi! I’ve been doing this for a while now, as a way of showing myself some compassion when I’m feeling fear. Or even when I’m not afraid, but as you say brushing my teeth. I look into my eyes as I would look at someone I love…and sometimes it’s really quite powerful, and sometimes it’s just calming. (And don’t tell anyone, but I even talk to myself sometimes…) ;p
psst…I won’t tell anyone cuz I do the same 😉
Oh Sandi loving your goods, as always. I struggle with my body image, and this creeped up for me again last night. It had gotten to a point where I even covered my mirrors at home to avoid criticizing myself. Funny thing is I really do love my self – my true self – but my egoic self steps in every once in awhile to blur that image and, as you so aptly put, is “irritated by those parts.”
Thanks for the reminder to see all of me – and love all those parts that go into making up that whole.
Yes. It really is above loving the parts as well as the whole. We do so tend to make the parts wrong – for not being perfect, not meeting society’s standards, etc. – except each and every part makes up the glorious whole of you. xoS
i luv this… any time i am reminded to shift my perspective towards the eyes of god, the eyes up there in the allknowing sky, my energy just lifts right out uv my brain and i feel bright, happy and sane again! 🙂 thanks and so happy to be sharing this ayearwithmyself.com with such bright stars! looking forward to recieving your posts! just subscribed!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is yet another magically mysterious and wondrous word dance, Sandi!! I live in a very tiny, 300 square foot, cottage. I have 2 mirrors
oops, 2 mirrors, one in the bathroom which is extra tiny, the other on the chest of drawers in the bedroom. I also got another one but it is very small and on the wall to help the rainbows dance inside the Wee Cottage. ANYWAY… I have noticed that I sometimes am surprised to see myself in these mirrors. I don’t avoid them or even look away as I once did, but I am coming to a point where I look and I see someone I actually want to know, someone, too, who intrigues me and this is such a delight. I still struggle with hearing my voice on a recording though… even though I know EVERYONE feels that same collywobbliness hearing themselves, I keep thinking this will change…
thanks for provoking thoughts.
It IS magical when you see yourself in the mirror and find yourself intrigued 😉