I am so happy, dear reader, to have been able to share with you the practice of mirror work, which has been so valuable to me in my life. My hope is that you, too, will find mirror work valuable as a vehicle for positive growth and self-care.
In closing, I would like to leave you with 12 ways you can love yourself now—and always. Let them serve as reminders of what you have learned over the past three weeks and provide you with ongoing support for a joyous and fulfilling life.
And always remember: I love you!
12 Ways You Can Love Yourself Now—and Always
Criticism never changes a thing. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself exactly as you are. Everybody changes. When you criticize yourself, your changes are negative. When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.
Let the past go. You did the best you could at the time, with the understanding, awareness, and knowledge that you had. Now you are growing and changing, and you will live life differently.
Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. It’s a dreadful way to live. Find a mental image that gives you pleasure and immediately switch a scary thought to a pleasant thought.
Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself as you learn new ways of thinking. Treat yourself as you would treat anyone you really love.
Self-hatred is hating your own thoughts. Don’t hate yourself for having the thoughts. Gently change the thoughts to more life-affirming ones.
Criticism breaks down your inner spirit. Praise builds it up. Praise yourself as much as you can. Tell yourself how well you are doing with every little thing.
Find ways to support yourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. It is being strong to ask for help when you need it.
Acknowledge that you created them to fulfill a need. Now you are finding new, positive ways to fulfill those needs. Lovingly release the old, negative patterns.
Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need in order to have optimum energy and vitality? Learn about exercise. What kind of exercise do you enjoy? Cherish and revere the temple you live in.
Remember the things that gave you joy as a child and incorporate them into your life now. Find a way to have fun with everything you do. Let yourself express the joy of living. Smile. Laugh. Rejoice, and the Universe rejoices with you!
Don’t wait until you get well or lose weight or get a new job or find a new relationship. Begin loving yourself now—and do the best you can.
Look into your eyes often. Express the growing sense of love you have for yourself. Forgive yourself while looking into the mirror. Talk to your parents while looking into the mirror. Forgive them, too. At least once.