For most of us, our day starts off looking in the mirror. Do you glance and turn away so you don’t make too much eye contact? Not that you don’t see the physical being in the mirror — it is deeper than that. If you are already thinking this is a woo-woo load of crap, stay with me.
Woo-woo (my) definition: rolling my eyes and dismissing something before I give it a chance. “That is just too woo-woo for me.”
TRUTH: I am not ready to hear that thing you just told me. It hurts too much to consider so I’ll call it woo-woo instead.
I am excellent at avoiding what I really need to hear because I am scared. So instead, I am going to write it off and keep self-sabotaging.
Back to our mirrors. When you’re looking in the mirror the focus is generally making sure your hair is brushed, teeth don’t have breakfast in them, no major wrinkles on the shirt, maybe applying some makeup. Standing in front of the mirror you quickly complete your tasks to get ready for the day and avoid any eye contact that would involve self-reflection because truly seeing yourself hurts too much. You have years of shame and guilt built up because you judge yourself for decisions you made. If you turned to food to deal with your emotions you now also cannot handle seeing what your physical being has become. It hurts. I get it!
You work to avoid mirrors, shadows, pictures, and any action that makes you acknowledge the feelings you are working so hard to stuff away. You hide. If you don’t stare at yourself in the mirror — in the eyes — you can avoid the pain and hurt you are so desperately working to avoid but also so desperately want to stop feeling. It’s time to look in the mirror and stare yourself right in the eyes and connect. Loving yourself is key to getting off the weight loss merry-go-round. Loving yourself is the only way to take weight loss off your to-do list.
What do you think, too woo-woo for you? Look, I get it. It is easy to write off loving yourself as a key to you having the life you so desperately want. But ask yourself, is what you have been doing so far working? Aren’t you ready to let go of all the heavy weighing you down — body, mind, and soul?
Here is the thing, dwelling on the past or avoiding life challenges in the future is just an avenue to create excuses and allow fear to control your life. It is time to stop hiding behind the lies that are tied to your fear. Loving yourself will lead to healthier choices. As you begin to experience success, you will realize that taking care of yourself is key to continued success.
Loving yourself creates this cycle. Not sure where to start. Don’t worry, I got you.
Are you ready to hold a mirror up and not look away?