Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Look at yourself


Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror, staring really hard into the eyes looking back at you and said an affirmation? I look at myself in the mirror every morning and evening--combing my hair, brushing my teeth, and doing the general routine of getting ready for work or for bed. But seldom do I look into the eyes reflected in the mirror and think about something positive.

I may think that I have a few more gray hairs or that I need to lose a couple of pounds or that I need to shave but it's not much that's personal and positive about me. The other night at a meeting, we passed around a mirror and people were supposed to look into the mirror and say something positive about themselves. They were supposed to give an affirmation.

One lady took the mirror and closed it, saying that she didn't want to look at herself. She was gently coaxed by a long-timer to take a peek and say something good about herself. She sneaked a peek and said quickly that she was living a better life than ever before. We all smiled.

I'm going to work on looking at myself more often. And I'll say something positive about me such as "I'm feeling better about myself in many ways" or "I'm unique and special" or any of the many other affirmations that could be listed. Al-Anon's literature has a lot of affirmations. So now I can add some of my own that focus on the good things in my recovery rather than the problems in my life.

13 comments:

  1. this sounds like an interesting thing to try at a meeting.

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  2. I couldn't even approach liking myself until I had cleared out the wreckage of my past with steps 4 through 9 taken in AA. It took me more years than I like to admit after doing those steps to finally find Alanon and get to the self-love part. Thank God I got to Alanon where I have learned to love myself, think well of myself, and be able to stop being so harsh with myself all the time. What a relief!

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  3. How hard a task that has to be alone - not to mention in front of others - it does sound like an exercise worthy of practice. Cat

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  4. One of our "trusted servants" at a recent AA mtg said he does this every day as a reminder of how far he has come in recovery. It would be difficult for me.

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  5. TV CHEERS: Bartender Woody was listening to a barroom discussion of 'premonitions'. Finally Woody, said, "I don't believe in premonitions. .....But I have this strange feeling that sone day I will."

    Well, I don't do 'affirmations'. .....But I have this strange feeling that I'm about to begin the practice.

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  6. I think that one of the reasons people may have a hard time with this is many of us tend to dwell on our negatives.

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  7. Hating to sound overly positive here (that's a lie) but whenever I see my reflection in a mirror or window or whatever, I smile. I am so damned giddy at having broken out of that cycle of self-torture finally. That person looking back at me in the mirror hung on just long enough to get help, even when it all seemed futile and not worth the effort. I have a lifetime to make amends, to me and to others. Thank God!

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  8. what an exercise... i'd feel uncomfortable doing it. mmmm, need to work on this.

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  9. I just cannot seem to do this affirmation stuff particularly after watching Al Franken's charachter Stuart do it on SNL for so long back in the day. But I do remember the first time I looked in the mirror in sobriety and didn't cringe. It was a good feeling.

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  10. What a very cool thing to do at a meeting. I try very hard to not have to look in the mirror most days. You're post has me re-thinking that! Thank you

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  11. It is really amazing to me how uncomfortable it is to do this exercise.

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  12. I hope when you look at yourself in the mirror you also see someone that people admire for your sharing and your work in making this world a better place to live.
    To feel good about ourselves.And the oceans are not to be taken for granted..but protected.
    :)

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  13. LOL

    Ummm, confession?

    I look in the mirror too much!

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