What do you see when you look in the mirror?
I’ve asked myself that question more times than I can count. And for years, the answer wasn’t great. I would pick myself apart, zoom in on every perceived flaw, and walk away feeling worse than I did before. The worst part? I thought that was normal.
If you’ve been tearing yourself down in the mirror for most of your life, I want you to know you’re not alone… and there’s a way to change that narrative.
Many of us started seeing ourselves negatively at a young age. Maybe it was a comment from a family member. Maybe the kids at school said something. Those words hit hard, especially when you’re just starting to form a view of who you are. Over time, those messages stick. And even though we grow up, the critic inside us doesn’t. It just gets louder.
But what if you could change how you see yourself? Not just physically, but emotionally too. What if the mirror could be a place where you build yourself up instead of break yourself down?
This is where the inside/out process starts. One of the first steps I recommend is spending one minute a day in front of the mirror, saying positive self-statements. Yes, at first it might feel awkward or forced. But over time, repetition helps. You start to shift your focus. You start to hear a different voice. And slowly… you start to believe it.
If you’ve struggled with body dysmorphia or think you might be dealing with something more serious, please talk to your doctor. If there’s a diagnosis, you can start treatment. If there isn’t, you still have awareness and that’s a huge step forward.
So much of the fitness industry is built on the idea that you need to hate your body to change it. But I believe the real, sustainable progress comes when you start with acceptance and build from there.
That inner critic might have been with you for a long time. But it’s not who you are. You get to decide who you are now. You get to build a voice that encourages you. And you get to start today.
If you want help building this foundation and creating a sustainable path to progress, join one of the YLF programs. Let’s build from the inside/out… together.