Today is National Compliment Your Mirror Day, and it reminds me of something I’ve noticed about people. In my work I have come across so many men and women who don’t like what they see in the mirror. On top of that they don’t say good things to that person in the mirror. They don’t help that person to build their self esteem and instead just drive it further underground!

This makes me so sad because a lot of the time the mirror lies to us! How do I know this? Because it lied to me too. What I have learned over the years is this. We over-examine and criticize and invent things that are not there. Sometimes there are flaws or issues, and there is a tendency to amplify it and make it bigger and worse than it actually is. This happens a lot with pimples, they are often described as acne, when the two things are nothing alike! I have learned that when I see a flaw in myself, to take a step back and be objective. Not emotional, not panicked but rational. There are a few questions you can ask: what is the issue? When did it appear? Have you changed something in your routine to cause it? Are you imagining it? When you have the answers you can make a decision and take action, but that doesn’t mean you have to start nagging at yourself and putting yourself down.

That’s why I think it’s important to look in the mirror and not freak out. Don’t obsess with things, only change the things you can, and not the things you can’t. All the while positive self talk means you don’t put yourself down, but work towards a solution in a healthy way. So next time you pass by a mirror, smile and see that you are not as bad as you think.

I have also learned that what we think about ourselves is never shared by other people! So if you’re making changes to suit other people, there’s often no need because they don’t see your ‘flaws’ like you do. If after all that objectivity and rational thought you still don’t feel good about your looks, then seek advice from someone who loves to build you up on the inside as well as the outside. Come and see me and my team in Centennial, CO, we will do our very best to make you compliment yourself the next time you see your reflection.