Learning Self Love: Louise Hay Mirror Work

For nearly 40 years, Louise Hay has been teaching others about healing, the power of affirmations and learning to love themselves. One of the modalities she is famous for is her mirror work.

In her newest book, “Mirror Work: 21 Days to Heal Your Life,” she walks readers through 21 exercise to heal their lives and help them tap into self love.

Each day, Hay presents a different theme, a Mirror Work Exercise, a Journaling Exercise and a Heart Thought to support the reader throughout the day. There is also a meditation each day that can be read from the book or downloaded in an audio format.

“Each day that you practice this new way of thinking about yourself and about life will help erase the old, negative messages you have been carrying for so long,” Hay says in the book. “Soon you will be smiling more and finding it easier to look in the mirror. Soon the affirmations will start to feel true.”

The below adaptation is taken from the Welcome chapter, including an exercise from Day 1:

 

Louise-Hay-Mirror-workMirror work — looking yourself deeply into your eyes and repeating affirmations — is the most effective method I’ve found for learning to love yourself and see the world as a safe and loving place. I have been teaching people how to do mirror work for as long as I have been doing? affirmations. Put simply, whatever we say or think is an affirmation. All of your self-talk, the dialogue in your head, is a stream of affirmations. These affirmations are messages to your subconscious that are? establishing habitual ways of thinking and behaving. Positive affirmations plant healing thoughts and ideas that support you in developing self-confidence and self-esteem, and creating peace of mind and inner joy.

The most powerful affirmations are those you say out loud when you are in front of your mirror. The mirror reflects back to you the feelings you have about yourself. It makes you immediately aware of where you are resisting and where you are open and flowing. It clearly shows you what thoughts you will need to change if you want to have a joyous, fulfilling life.

As you learn to do mirror work, you will become much more aware of the words you say and the things you do. You will learn to take care of yourself on a deeper level than you have done before. When something good happens in your life, you can go to the mirror and say, “Thank you, thank you. That’s terrific! Thank you for doing this.” If something bad happens to you, you can go to the mirror and say, “Okay, I love you. This thing that just happened will pass but I love you, and that’s forever.”

For most of us, sitting in front of a mirror and facing ourselves is difficult at first, so we call this process mirror work. But as you continue, you become less self-critical, and the work turns into mirror play. Very soon your mirror becomes your companion, a dear friend instead of an enemy.

Doing mirror work is one of the most loving gifts you can give yourself. It takes only a second to say, “Hi, kid,” or “Looking good,” or “Isn’t this fun?” It’s so important to give yourself little positive messages throughout the day. The more you use mirrors for complimenting yourself, approving of yourself, and supporting yourself during difficult times, the deeper and more enjoyable your relationship with yourself will become…

Your Day 1 Mirror Work Exercise

  1. Stand or sit in front of your bathroom mirror.
  2. Look into your eyes.
  3. Take a deep breath and say this affirmation: “I want to like you. I want to really learn to love you. Let’s go for it and really have some fun.”
  4. Take another deep breath and say: “I’m learning to really like you. I’m learning to really love you.”
  5. This is the first exercise, and I know it can be a little challenging, but please stay with it. Keep taking deep breaths. Look into your eyes. Use your own name as you say I’m willing to learn to love you, [Name]. I’m willing to learn to love you.
  6. Throughout the day, each time you pass a mirror or see your reflection, please repeat these affirmations, even if you have to do it silently.

Reprinted as an adaptation from “Mirror Work: 21 Days to Heal Your Life,” by Louise Hay with permission from the publisher, Hay House Inc., Copyright © 2016

 

“A Year On Your Path to Grow: Daily Inspirations to Reconnect With Your Soul,” by Keri Nola

The importance of a daily spiritual practice to connect us with our higher self and a higher power can’t be stressed enough. Whether its meditation, prayer, chanting, yoga or journaling, a daily spiritual practice can ground, center and strengthen us to tackle anything that comes our way.

One way to begin is to read something inspirational every morning to start the day on a positive note, and “A Year On Your Path to Grow: Daily Inspirations to Reconnect With Your Soul,” by Keri Nola is the perfect fit! Founder of Path to Growth LLC, a Central Florida-based integrative healing center that blends traditional and holistic techniques for journeys to peace, Nola offers 365 inspirational thoughts starting January 1 and ending December 31.

Each chapter is a new month and a new theme, such as February’s topic “Wrap Yourself in Love,” or April’s topic “Intention and Manifestation.” As a licensed mental health counselor, Nola offers thought-provoking and inspiring passages to awaken the soul within to the divine guidance available to us all. It’s like having your own personal life coach offering you advice and inspiration every day!

For example, the April 9 entry reads:

“What you think about, you bring about. When we spend our time and energy thinking about what’s “wrong” and “bad” in our lives, we miss the opportunity to spend our time and energy creating what feels “right” and “good.” Today, when you notice your mind visiting the “what if’s” and the potential catastrophes, acknowledge the fear and then balance it with something you’re grateful for…notice the shift.”

And the August 18 passage is as follows:

“Remember that there are no experts outside of us on the inner journey. Give yourself permission to get quiet and go within today to strengthen your relationship with your wise, intuitive self…after all, this is your most powerful resource!”

Whether you start at the beginning, turn to the day’s actual date, or just let the universe guide you as you open to a random page, this book can serve as an invaluable tool to those on the path to reconnect with spirit!

For more information on Keri Nola, visit www.pathtogrowth.com, connect with her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter @pathtogrowth.