Why is looking in the Mirror important?

How many times, unknowingly or knowingly, have you avoided looking in the mirror? Are you one of those who believe that looks don’t matter but still have never taken a second to wait and look at themselves in the mirror?

Looking in the mirror i.e. Mirror Gazing is more often than not considered to be related to narcissism, but what people don’t know is that it is an important part of self-growth. The mirror is the metaphor of reflections. When we see our reflection in the mirror, it boosts our self-confidence, self-kindness, and mindfulness, also allowing better stress management. 

Avoiding looking into the mirror may keep you away from getting a deeper understanding of your own self.

Some additional benefits of mirror gazing are as follows:

1. Meditation- Mirror gazing is a type of meditation. There are numerous types of meditations out there and it’s totally up to you which one you wish to indulge in but in the end, all of these aims at increasing self-awareness. It can be a bit difficult at first but will help you gain a positive perspective. Unlike in other forms of meditation, we do not close our eyes, instead see our reflection and try to get a better understanding of our deeper emotions. 
2. Overcoming Self-Loathing- Each and every person has mixed feelings about themselves. You might hate some things about yourself and might love some. The practice of comparing ourselves with unrealistic standards set by society tends to affect our mental health. But looking in the mirror at our reflection makes us not only aware of ourselves but also boosts our self-confidence. It enables you to appreciate yourself, which might seem to be a tiny thing but can bring miraculous changes in one’s life.     It’s never too late to love yourself, know more about ways to practice self-love here.
3. Boosting Self Confidence- Self-consciousness and lack of confidence are two of the most important reasons behind not matching the bar we’ve set for ourselves. Looking in the mirror can give you a sense of self-awareness and self-control. Talking to yourself about things you feel insecure about and the ways it keeps on affecting you will boost your self-confidence.
4. A deeper sense of Emotional Awareness- While living such fast-paced lives, it’s normal to overlook our deeper emotions. We may lose touch with our inner-self. This makes it difficult to understand what is bothering us or how we perceive ourselves. Looking in the mirror will help us build a deeply intimate and mindful connection with ourselves.

Taking a deeper look at ourselves can help us feel the overlooked thoughts we do not confront. You may be fostering self-doubt and come across it while looking in the mirror. Be non-judgemental and calm. Regular reflection of thoughts and emotions of the self can also help one manage their anxiety.

So, the next time you cross a mirror, don’t forget to take a minute, look at yourself, appreciate what you see, smile and then move on with your work.