How many times do you stand in front of the mirror and talk to yourself or think about the image you see? How many times do you get to look in the mirror and face your emotions?
Probably, pretty rarely if ever, considering the standard of beauty set by fashion and every online platform. In this case, the mirror can turn into your worst enemy with a strict hidden judgment and you will avoid making it seem like nothing is right about you.
Dr. Tara Well, professor of psychology at Barnard College of Columbia University, has built a method for regaining confidence in oneself and being in touch with the inner world.
Best known for the book "Mirror Meditation", she advises you how to get rid of self-criticism and love yourself more. In this way, you have more control over your emotions and are in better touch with yourself.
Looking in the mirror: When is it fattening and when is it harmful?
According to neuroscience, it is important for the brain to have contact with the face and recognize it. This contact is needed to understand facial expressions and emotions better, in this way, each individual is in better control of himself and his reactions to others. The problem arises when the interaction with the mirror becomes delusional, because comparing yourself to society's standards prevents you from seeing the truth as it is. This can lead to a serious psychological condition called 'body dysmorphia'.
One way to become familiar with your image is by taking more pictures of yourself.
As for the time, there are no numbers that decide the time you should spend looking at yourself in the mirror, it is important to be careful with the image you see reflected.
How does mirror meditation work?
Start by taking a few minutes to look yourself in the eye in front of a mirror. This simple gesture is very powerful and helps you connect with the deepest parts of yourself. Being alone with your thoughts in a room for a few minutes can seem scary, but it helps you organize your thoughts, set priorities and make decisions.
Before Dr. Well to start meditation with her patients, she asks them:
Have you looked in the mirror today?
Did you try to avoid yourself first?
Did you stop yourself first?
These questions help to understand in which stage the person is. To do meditation in front of the mirror, you need: a quiet place where you can sit in front of the mirror, set an alarm for 5 minutes, look into your eyes in the mirror and write the emotions or thoughts that come up in a pad.
According to Tara Well, 10 minutes a day of this practice helps with self-love, gentleness with it, and respect for appearance and body.
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