Learning to Love the Reflection: Love in Focus

Welcome back to Year of You! Today we will discuss practicing body positivity both in-person and online.

What Do You See When You Look in the Mirror...?

Summer brings with it a kind of unveiling. As the layers come off— sweaters traded for swimsuits, long pants for shorts—many of us become more aware of how we feel in our bodies. The warmth and light that define the season can feel freeing, but can also intensify the pressure to look a certain way. Social media overflows with messages about personal improvement, and it’s easy to internalize the idea that only some bodies are worthy of being seen, celebrated, or comfortable in the sun. It’s in these moments online where we especially start to experience a crafted experience that can make a return to reality all too jarring.

Each day, most of us find ourselves in front of a mirror. Morning routines often begin with one: Fixing our hair, brushing our teeth, washing our face, applying makeup, or checking our teeth before heading back to a meeting. Mirrors help us see the details. They offer feedback. But what happens when that feedback doesn’t feel kind? What if, instead of feeling affirmed or neutral when you glance at your reflection, you feel a wave of dread? What if your first instinct isn’t appreciation or even indifference, but critique? What if the mirror has become a battleground rather than a place of connection?

Ask yourself:

• How often do you look in the mirror?

• Do you avoid mirrors altogether?

• When you see yourself, do you smile… or do you pinch, critique, or sigh?

These questions aren’t meant to shame, but to open the door to a deeper awareness. Mirrors are tools, but for many, they’ve become measuring sticks for worth, perfection, or comparison. It’s no surprise, then, that our reflection may trigger discomfort rather than peace.

Social media exacerbates this issue by showing us curated and often idealized portrayals of others, for example reels carefully crafted to highlight perfection, success, and beauty. Constantly comparing ourselves to these polished images can chip away at our self-esteem and further distort how we view our own reflection. Instead of feeling confident or content when we look in the mirror, we may find ourselves weighed down by unrealistic standards and harsh comparisons, making it harder to appreciate our authentic selves. This external portrayal of “perfection” can make our own view feel less like a true picture and more like a reminder of what we believe we’re lacking.

By recognizing both the mirrors we face in our homes and the digital mirrors we confront online, we can begin to untangle the harsh feedback from reality. This awareness is the first step toward reclaiming kindness and compassion in how we view ourselves, especially during a season that encourages us to shed not just our clothes, but our self-esteem as well.

The Truth About Body Positivity

The term body positivity entered mainstream language in the early 2000s. At its core, it’s a movement rooted in reclaiming the narrative around beauty, worth, and self-image. But it has since evolved, and continues to evolve.

True body positivity isn’t about loving every single inch of your body every day. It’s about acceptance, respect, and care, even if you’re still on a journey toward self-love. It’s about recognizing that our bodies are not problems to be solved, but parts of us that deserve nourishment, safety, and compassion.

Body acceptance doesn’t mean we ignore the desire to grow or change; it means we stop punishing ourselves in the process. It allows us to say:

“I’m allowed to love myself now, not just when I’ve met some arbitrary standard of beauty or size or perfection.”

Try This Mirror Exercise:

Next time you’re in front of a mirror, pause....

Take a deep breath....

Look into your own eyes. Not at your skin, not at your weight, not at imperfections. Just your eyes....

Then say out loud or silently:

I see you.

I’m trying to be kinder to you.

You are worthy of care.

You don’t need to fake joy or confidence. Just show up with honesty and a willingness to change the narrative.

This Month’s Invitation:

• Reflect on how you feel when you see yourself.

  
  

• Challenge the inner critic. Speak to yourself as you would to a friend.

  
  

• Explore what body neutrality might look like if positivity feels too far off.

  
  

You are more than what you see in the mirror.

You are a whole story. A collection of resilience, kindness, humor, effort, and growth. Don’t let a pane of glass or images on a screen define the totality of your worth.

Until next time,

Helping you optimize your life, one reflection at a time.