Looking at Myself in the Mirror for 10 Minutes Every Morning Cured My Sadness
Loving oneself is often the hardest thing to learn, but also the most important.
There was a brutality in the way I viewed myself.
My therapist categorised it as using a proverbial whip against my back every time I was not perfect.
What I had to learn was how to be compassionate to myself.
To treat myself with the same kindness, concern, and support I’d show to a good friend or my family.
I had to learn to humanize myself.
The first step: stare at the mirror for ten minutes every morning — or, more precisely, look into my own eyes.
Here are the weekly results I bullet-pointed from my journal.
First week
- I became aware of how intimidated I was by the process and that I was uncomfortable staring at myself for a long period.
- I kept breaking contact to look at the timer.
Second week
- I started to notice a difference in how hard I was with myself.
Third week
- I was comfortable staring at myself now.
- I wasn’t always thinking about the timer for ten minutes going off or myself.
- My self-reflection on the situation became more profound.
Fourth week
- I remembered in-depth some of the trauma I’d endured in my life.
- I gained a new perspective on this. I wasn’t to blame for all of it.
Conclusion:
Further research into this practice and its effects uncovered a study. In one study, researchers speculate that the reason this is effective is because the mirror allows us to see our faces and eyes, which are important in the way we communicate compassion.
While showing oneself compassion is a continuous process that needs work, I believe it is a good first step in having compassion for oneself.
While the practice in itself may seem mundane at the start, constantly showing up to the mirror, I started to trust myself more, which helped in fostering a connection between my internal struggles and the external world.
It catalysed change, challenging the negative narrative I had crafted about myself.
Key Takeaway: It is a reminder that, in our quest for personal growth and happiness, sometimes the most profound transformations begin with ourselves.
Thank you for reading