Self-talk and the Mirror

Dress: La Maison Talulah (love this similar one) // Towels: Amazon

Location: Home Sweet Heel Clicks

I shared the following post on Sunday on Facebook and it had an overwhelming response. I decided to also share it here on the blog:

When you look in the mirror what do you see?

A few years ago whenever I looked in the mirror I saw someone who was a failure. I talked to her that way, too. I’d say things like, “You are not getting things right today.” Or “This isn’t your day.”

I began avoiding mirrors. I saw every single flaw in myself every single day. Then, one day a mentor of mine told me to say one positive thing for every negative thing I said.

Looking back, what I was going through was depression. I was so tired every day. I was angry at how life turned out and I felt like everything was my fault. Depression is a lot of work to manage. It’s a level of fatigue that makes taking a shower feel like an Olympic sport. But I kept going. Each time I said something crappy to myself, I stop and say something positive.

At first, it felt phony, but over time I started saying less of the negative and more of the positive. The positive became my new normal.

Now I don’t just look in the mirror by accident anymore - I hop right on the counter and look myself squarely in the eye as I put on mascara and say, “You will conquer your goals today because you’re amazing.”

I needed myself to positively reinforce all the good in my life.

Day by day words of encouragement to myself filled up my breath instead of criticisms. I started hitting more goals. I started finding more joy. Now when I look in the mirror, I see someone who had one hell of a time and pulled through. That’s strength.

That’s beauty.