It really depends in what mood I am in. Most times, it's a pep talk, or what were you thinking kind of thing. I don't do this in every mirror, just at home.
__________________ Popping back up from my part of the world!
I actually created a one-hour self esteem workshop for overweight teen girls using the very same subject!
I tell the girls that when I look in the mirror I have often said some very hurtful things to myself.."My G-d look at you, you have grown another chin, how did you let yourself go like this, your skin is sallow, your eyes are puffy, your teeth are",,, on and on and on. I usually get nervous laughter or embarrasment from the group...
I ask if any of them ever did the same thing, and usually get little nods of self-conscious affirmation. I then ask what they would do if anyone else spoke to them that way, and I get responses like" I'd smack them!"
My next question is "then why do you think it's OK to say those things to yourself? At that point I pull out a hand mirror, and tell myself, "you are very kind, You're a good mom, you're an excellent cook, you have a great smile, your hair is really shiny" etc. Then I pass the mirror around and ask the girls to say one nice thing to themselves..
Most start to do so grudgingly, but by the third time around the circle, everyone is participating, and enjoying it with laughter and bravado..
Then I ask their neighbor to look into the mirror with the other girl and say something nice about her
It sometimes brings tears, and hugs, but the girls always go away with a better attitude than they walked in with.
I think it's too easy for many girls to be unkind to themselves in the mirror... But the girls from my group have often come back to say they like the girl they now see looking back at them. One girl even told me that her reflection had become her most supportive friend.
That brought tears to my eyes, and made me glad I started the project. I think this exercise wold work well with any girls overwight or not...
"My G-d look at you, you have grown another chin, how did you let yourself go like this, your skin is sallow, your eyes are puffy, your teeth are"
Oh my, I was going to post this same thing. Usually the only thing I say to myself in the mirror comes through tears of frustration and yelling at myself saying that I'm fat and can't stand what I've done to myself.
Oh Amanda, don't feel bad! I think as women we all tend to fall into self-critical patterns. My mom used to tell me "You're your own worst enemy" and I'd look at her like she was insane. lolol...
That comment from my mom was the inspiration for the workshop... As a teen I never understood what she meant.. It was only as a grown woman that I realized that for many of us, if someone doesn't help us see past the surface reflection, how are we expected to know how do do it for ourselves??
Amanda, when I look at your photo, (and read your posts) I see a dedicated person, a great mom, a successful entrepreneur, a tireless woman who has done so much for me and all of us here at family corner. You are the one who created and sustained this community of ours, and this place truly saved my life six years ago.
Look in the mirror and tell yourself how extrordenary you are, and remind yourself how much you mean to so many people. Then smile, and remind yourself that you are NOT plump... you're fluffy.. It works for me ...
Amanda, when I look at your photo, (and read your posts) I see a dedicated person, a great mom, a successful entrepreneur, a tireless woman who has done so much for me and all of us here at family corner. You are the one who created and sustained this community of ours, and this place truly saved my life six years ago.
Look in the mirror and tell yourself how extrordenary you are, and remind yourself how much you mean to so many people..
That is one of the nicest things anyone has said to me this year. Thank you so much, you brought a tear to my eye
Popping back up from my part of the world!
I dont like mirrors 
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love, 
