How to See Your Own Beauty

This dreaded day has come – the day when I bring you one of the cheesiest-sounding self-care practices that has ever existed.

It sounds ridiculous. I didn’t even particularly want to share this, but here’s the thing…it works.

This month, I’m inviting you to try mirror work – to say “{your name}, I love you” every time you look in the mirror.

I learned of this practice (or at least – I was finally open to hearing and considering this practice) last month while reading The Art of Extreme Self-Care by Cheryl Richardson for our monthly media pick. Cheryl learned it from Louise Hay and thought it sounded like a Saturday Night Live skit. But as Louise has been enormously successful and has positively affected the lives of likely millions of people, it’s hard to ignore something she believes works.

Cheryl tried it and it changed her enough to include it as a chapter in her book. I decided to give it a shot, and the oddest thing is happening over the past month.

I feel beautiful. I look into the mirror and am happy to see me instead of looking critically for flaws. It’s pretty awesome – and it’s so easy. The only challenge you’ll face is feeling ridiculous, but it should fade within a week as your delight in your beauty replaces it.

In an interview with Marcelle Pick and Cheryl Richardson, Louise Hay gives this excellent answer as to why to try mirror work:

“With the mirror. I think it’s the most powerful thing and it works very quickly. Within a week big changes happen. Looking in the mirror, saying your name, and saying, I love you. I really, really love you. It’s a powerful step. It works magic. Use the mirror instead of having it be something you shun, or every time you look at it, you say something negative about your body, or your looks, or whatever. Those are terrible affirmations. Every time you face the mirror you’ll start to shudder because you know you’re going to get a negative message. So if you can turn that around and make the mirror your friend, and the person in the mirror your dearest friend, then things change enormously.”(“Thoughts Can Change Your Life – An Interview With Louise Hay And Cheryl Richardson” https://www.womentowomen.com/emotions-anxiety-mood/thoughts-can-change-your-life-an-interview-with-louise-hay-and-cheryl-richardson/)

Give it a shot for a week and let us know what you think!