I See Me…
Hey there… When did you last look in the mirror?
Does it sound strange? But I insist — When did you last look in the mirror and say–“Wow! You look beautiful!”
We meet people around and admire them — their looks, their achievements, their social circle. We are in awe of them. Somewhere we want that all. We do that, right?
I want to stop you there.
Right there.
Hold your thought and now look at yourself and tell me — when was the last time you did that for yourself?
When was it that you appreciated yourself? You saw at you with a few pounds extra and were ok with it? You said something inappropriate and still forgave yourself just as you would have forgiven your loved ones.
We all talk about unconditional love and living a life without expectations. How often do we really live by that? Ask yourself — “Do I love myself unconditionally and for who I am?”
You will get many answers and will tell yourself many things. But the truth is, your expectation of you is whatever you make of it.
We have in many ways defined who or what a perfect person is supposed to be. There is nothing wrong with it until you start noticing your own imperfections.
Let me tell you a secret.
As a child were in love with yourself.
What’s changed? Expectations walked in, and pure self-love walked out.
Your inner voice is screaming, but youcan’t hear it in all the chaos of expectations. You have stopped listening to yourself. You have stopped looking at yourself. And you have stopped loving yourself.
This needs to change. You need to fall in love with yourself again.
Here are a few things you can do to start:
1. Take five minutes every day to look at yourself in the mirror.
a. Say five things you love about yourself out loud while you look at yourself in the mirror.
b. Tell yourself two things about yourself that you are proud of.
c. Give yourself at least one compliment a day.
2. When someone compliments you, accept the compliment and say “thank you.” (Do not decline by saying, “Oh No! I’m just doing my job.”)
3. Spend time with yourself.
a. Choose one thing to do for yourself daily. It can be anything — a cup of coffee or reading a few pages from a new book or just sitting outside in the sun.
b. Turn down coffee with friends or a lunch date with co-workers and spend that time alone.
4. Use Affirmations. Affirmations can help change your beliefs. For example: “I am in love with myself, and I accept myself,” is one affirmation that works miracles.
a. Create your affirmations and read them out loud.
b. Repeat them as many times as possible during the day.
c. Record yourself speaking your affirmations and play it back while you drive to work every day, or as you fall asleep.
5. Choose your anchor. Take an object or perform an activity that reminds you and empowers you. For example — use belief stones and hold on to them when you can — like watching TV or doing something else. I use my keychain which reminds me that I am supposed to love myself. I also use Music as my anchor — Listening to your favorite song or audio every day also helps you deepen your love towards yourself and empower you.
Let me be blunt in saying this — If you do not love yourself or accept yourself just the way you are then do not expect anyone else to do that for you. You need to love yourself and see yourself.
As Gandhi says, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” If you want the world to love you, and see you there is no other option but this.
I see me — do you?
