Mirror, Mirror on the wall…
I knew I could be doomed the minute I walked into the yoga studio that had the WALL of MIRRORS! My “home” base for my yoga practice at Kansas Siddhi Yoga doesn’t have mirrors. So, it’s uncommon for me to practice with my reflection staring back at me. Or anyone one else’s reflection, for that matter. Also, teaching yoga with various angles reflecting back to the class is just one more wardrobe malfunction waiting to be witnessed.
Without mirrors you can feel the verbal cue to align your body in a certain way rather than look in the mirror. You can keep any negative judgments about your pooch, saddle bags, muffin top or need for a highlight at bay. You can keep your ego in check if you find your forward bend is deeper, your ass is tighter and your hair looks better than the girl on the mat in the back. You can keep your thoughts focused on your breath, turning inward, not the buying into the external bologna a mirror can trigger.
The mirror, among MANY other things, can stir up useless, untrue, and irrational “self talk”. IF, IF, IF, you allow that power. That’s where the discipline of practicing positive self talk, choosing a mantra, comes to life. There is something so Stuart Smalley about this topic. I know its corny but, I’m passionate about it. Patterns of negative or positive self-talk often start in childhood. Usually, the self-talk habit is one that’s colored our thinking for years. I can still hear that jerk from high school who called me “Squaron” after coming to my high school swim meet. He was inspired by my square like shape in my speedo, from boobs to hips. Sadly, it still pops into my head. Thankfully, my awareness to that thought has lessened over the last twenty years because I have a positive phrase I come back to….in those moments.
Consider the truth behind the TUT tag line that “thoughts becoming things…choose the good ones”…. http://www.tut.com/theclub/
- What do you say when you talk to yourself?
- If your brain printed out every thought like a ticker tape out your mouth, would you EVER say those same words to anyone else?
- How would you feel if you best friend said the exact thing back you that first started as a thought in your head?
- Do you feel empowered by your thoughts?
- Are you hurting the God that created you by slaying his DIVINE creation…you?
One problem is that negative self talk reinforces the irrational ideas you already have. Each time you repeat one of those negative phrases you are actually making your irrational idea stronger …..key word that keeps getting repeated is IRRATIONAL!
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| Final obstacle at the Tough Mudder |
Switch it, flip the switch like a shockwave running through your body. Interrupt those negative thoughts and switch them to empowering, kind and nurturing thoughts. Let THOSE shockingly fabulous thought become …..things.
This isn’t new information about positive self talk. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 23:7, “As a man thinks in his heart so he is”. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think on these things.”
Humans have been consistently filling our head with crap….since the Old Testament.
Start here, simply create a short phrase (mantra) you can come back to when a negative thought pops in….
- I am strong
- I am kind and loving
- I am gorgeous and perfect in every moment
- My day is filled with peaceful interactions
- I am my own unique self - special, creative and wonderful
- All my relationships are loving and harmonious
- I am at peace
- I trust in the process of life
- My life is a joy filled with love, fun and friendship
- I choose love
- This is a new day, I am a new me!
- I release feelings of competition or comparison, I enjoy being ME!
- I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.
stay glossed and growing,
sharona
The psychology behind self talk.
Lipgloss
ReplyDeleteI loved this. Especially because i just saw my cellulite riddled ass in the mirror. Because of this, I feel better about it. Now I'm going for pizza.
Love big buns
Katie