Mirror Mirror on the Wall

I want to speak to those who may have trouble with sleep and anxiety.   Sometimes this has to do with self-love and negative self-talk.  Often, we have so many negative thoughts or negative expectations that we are constantly on edge.  It’s how our brain tends to be wired—towards the negative.  But there’s a better way and that is to expect that everything is working out for our highest good.  Loving ourselves and expecting the best can take time, but it begins with learning how to be really present—out of our head and into our hearts.

Try this Brief Practice on Kindness

Lately I’ve done this thing in the morning– you may think I’m really crazy– but I have found that it helps me avoid that negative self-talk in the morning.  What I do is a yoga practice.  You put your hands together in prayer position near your forehead and you say, “I think kind thoughts”.  Then, put your hands near your throat and say, “ I say kind words to myself and others.”  Then, place your hands on your heart and say, “ I feel kindness and compassion in my heart.”   

I want to tell you a little story. I taught this exercise to some teen girls who are facing some difficult challenges right now.  They’re part of this Butterfly Club and Rainbows for Kids for Cancer Survivors and Thrivers.   It’s a beautiful organization founded by Sally Rains in St. Louis.   In teaching these girls how to have self-love to have self-compassion, I realized many of us may need this kind of work as well.   We can all get into that negative, critical voice that comes up.

Lean into More Self-Love

I’ve had to work through my negative thinking and try to come up with a more powerful inner coach which is why my book is called, “Inner Power Now.” There’s this beautiful heart connection that is where we live from our higher self.  This is where we connect with our soul to our heart space.  One way to do this is called mirror work and a lot of people that have been involved in personal development, like #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Canfield who Co created Chicken Soup for the Soul and Louise Hay, bestselling author and founder of Hay House Publishing.  They talk about using the mirror to help with self-talk and self-acceptance. 

Mirror Work: How to Do It

This practice is taught to us at Jack Canfield’s Breakthrough to Success training.  I also teach all of my clients this exercise.  And I want you to learn this, too.  What you do is in the evening you keep this going for 30 days straight.  You look in the mirror; you look into the soul of your eyes and you say your name and then say “I love you.”   Then you say some acknowledgements, like, “I acknowledge you today for doing a live stream.  I acknowledge you today for getting out there in public.  I acknowledge you today for committing to health and fitness in making that a huge priority in your life.”   You go through three things or more.  Maybe you’ll have trouble getting started. 

Keep Going Through Any Difficulty

 I remember when I first did this, there were some tears that came out, and you know, it was hard to look at myself in the eye;  because maybe I wasn’t feeling really good about myself.  So Mirror work is so powerful.  Please be gentle with yourself. First, begin with your name say, “Vicki, I love you.” Say some things you acknowledge about yourself. Maybe there are things that you accomplished.  Maybe it’s some habits that you did that day, or maybe some discoveries that you made.   We need to acknowledge ourselves and congratulate ourselves for some things we’ve done well.   Then, at the very end, you can say again your name and say “I love you.”

I hope that this has been helpful doing Mirror Work.  There’s a book out there right now that’s called High 5 by Mel Robbins.   She has people doing a High-5” in the mirror so you might try that too in the morning or in the evening.  You can do this practice at either time.   Find out what may work for you and be consistent.

Remember to Involve Your Family

One little tip – you may want to tell your family you’re doing this so they don’t come in on you and you’re in the middle of this.  You may want to warn them that you’re going to be doing this over the next 30 days.  You can also invite them to do it, too. Let’s do this together, as a group, so we can all have more self-love, compassion, and kindness.  The world needs so much more of this.

Wishing  you and your family the best!

Vicki

Vicki Atlas Israel is a Mindset and Meditation Coach, and the Amazon bestselling author of “Inner Power NOW.”  The Foreword is written by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Jack Canfield, co-creator of  “Chicken Soup for the Soul.”  High-achievers hire Vicki to improve their wellbeing to live their best life.  Vicki is also passionate about bringing more inner peace to parents, children, and those who work with children.