31 Days Of I Love Myself Enough : Day 31

DAY THIRTY ONE: I LOVE MYSELF ENOUGH TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND LOVE WHO I SEE LOOKING BACK AT ME

For me, this was perhaps the BIGGEST game changer of all!

In the past, whenever I looked in the mirror, I didn’t particularly like the person looking back at me.

I saw someone who wasn’t good enough. Someone who felt insecure, worthless, undeserving and carried so much shame.

I struggled to look at myself with love, let alone actually tell myself that I loved myself.

And then I discovered the power of mirror work through Louise Hay.

Louise was a huge advocate of mirror work. She taught us to look into our own eyes, without looking away, to really connect with ourselves and our inner child.

And to say:

‘I love you, Lynn. I really, really love you.’

The first time I did this, the tears just rolled down my face. I sobbed.

There was something incredibly emotional about looking into my own eyes and telling that little girl, who had spent so many years believing she wasn’t good enough, that she was loved.

For the first time, I wasn’t looking at myself through the eyes of criticism, judgement or shame. I was looking at myself with love.

And it felt AMAZING!

Louise teaches us to practise mirror work every day. And because my own experience was so powerful, I want to share something with you.

The first time I practised mirror work was in 2011. I have practised it EVERY SINGLE DAY since then.

When I get up in the morning and go into the bathroom, I look at myself in the mirror, look into my own eyes and tell myself that I love myself.

It no longer feels silly, uncomfortable or awkward. It’s become as much a part of my daily routine as brushing my teeth.

That’s how powerful this practice has become for me.

I now share mirror work with my coaching clients and during some of my workshops. And yes, there can sometimes be resistance at first. It can feel uncomfortable, emotional or even a little ridiculous.

But that’s okay.

Sometimes the things that feel most uncomfortable are the very things that have the potential to change us.

And once people begin to experience the connection and the love that can come from this simple practice, they often find themselves wanting to continue.

So, if you’ve never tried mirror work, I’d love to invite you to give it a go.

Stand in front of a mirror. Look into your own eyes without looking away.

Really SEE yourself.

Notice what comes up. Notice how you feel. Don’t judge it, don’t criticise yourself and don’t try to change anything.

Simply be with yourself.

And then say:

‘I love you.’

Use your own name, too. There’s something incredibly powerful about looking into your own eyes and hearing yourself say your own name.

If saying ‘I love you’ feels too big a step right now, that’s absolutely fine.

Start with:

‘I am willing to love you.’

You don’t have to force it. You don’t have to believe it straight away. Just be willing to open the door to a different relationship with yourself.

And keep practising.

I will ALWAYS continue with mirror work. Why wouldn’t I? It’s been life-changing for me.

And here’s something I really want you to understand.

Mirror work isn’t about being conceited, vain or thinking you’re better than anyone else.

It’s about connection.

It’s about reconnecting with yourself, accepting yourself, making peace with the person you see looking back at you and learning to offer yourself the love you’ve perhaps spent so many years looking for elsewhere.

It’s about becoming your own biggest cheerleader, your own source of encouragement and, most importantly, your own source of love.

Because the relationship you have with yourself is the most important relationship you will ever have.

And you deserve to look in the mirror and feel love for the person looking back at you.

So, there we have it. 31 days of choosing ourselves. 31 days of exploring what it means to love ourselves enough.

My hope is that somewhere along the way, something has resonated with you, something has shifted, or perhaps you’ve started looking at yourself and your worth a little differently.

Please do let me know if you have found these past 31 days useful or inspiring or if any of my daily messages have helped you to change anything.

And if there’s one thing I hope you take away from this series, it’s this:

YOU ARE WORTHY OF LOVE. NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU DO, WHAT YOU ACHIEVE OR WHAT YOU GIVE TO OTHERS. BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU ARE YOU.

Never forget that.

Sending you all so much love from my heart to yours.

Lynn