Remember that moment you caught your reflection and instantly recoiled like you’d seen a spider in your coffee? Yeah, me too. For years, mirrors were my nemesis, reflecting back a distorted enemy I called “me.” It wasn’t about vanity; it was a gut-punch of negativity every time. Seven days ago, armed with desperation and a slightly ridiculous plan inspired by a self-help guru who probably sells crystals, I decided to wage war…on my thoughts, not my face.
The secret weapon? Positive affirmations, but with a twist. Instead of generic “I am beautiful,” I went specific and slightly sarcastic. “Hey face, you’ve seen better days, but you’ve also seen me through some epic Netflix binges, so thanks.” Each morning, I’d stare into the mirror and find one thing, even the tiniest thing, I could appreciate – my eyelashes, the way my hair fell (sometimes), even just the fact I had functioning ears. It felt silly, but by day three, something shifted. The harsh critic in my head started to quiet down, replaced by…well, not love, but a grudging truce.
By day seven, I wasn’t suddenly a supermodel in my mind, but I could look in the mirror without flinching. The reflection wasn’t a monster anymore, just…me. Flaws and all. And guess what? That’s perfectly okay. It turns out, hating your reflection is exhausting. Choosing neutrality, or even a sliver of kindness, is surprisingly liberating. Try it. Your reflection – and your sanity – will thank you.