There is no argument that life can often be rough at times. I can use myself as an example. I had a hysterectomy at age 35 for a massive fibroid, which ended my chances of getting pregnant and having a child.
I had a job I really liked but had a disagreement with another co-worker and abruptly quit. Who ended up getting hurt? My co-worker took my job and was happy as a clam, while I had to move back to my hometown for a year and get back on my feet.
The old saying goes: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Think about the experiences in your own life and how they seemed insurmountable at the time, but you made it through.
Now my arthritis is getting worse and I am in pain for a good part of the day. It seems like there is not a joint in my body that feels normal, and I get depressed at times and feel like throwing in the towel on life.
I talked about the mirror exercise in a previous blog and used Olympic luge contestant Ruben Gonzalez as an example. If you’re not familiar with the luge, contestants are enclosed in a mile-long downhill track and reach speeds of 90 mph. This event is so strenuous that most contestants break a bone at some point in their careers.
Ruben’s friend Craig was urging him on, but Ruben found the going so tough, that he was ready to give up his Olympic dream and go home. The following conversation took place between the two friends:
Ruben: “Craig, this is tougher than I thought. My side hurts, and I think I broke my foot. I’m ready to go back to soccer.”
Craig: “Ruben, get in front of a mirror.”
Ruben: “What?”
Craig: “Get in front of a mirror, and repeat after me, no matter how hard it gets, I’m going to make it.”
Feeling silly at first, Ruben repeated these words over and over, and by the tenth time, he was jumping up and down with excitement. Ruben went on to compete in three Olympics and was the oldest contestant in the 2006 Olympics.
Like Ruben, getting in front of a mirror when you’re feeling like you can’t go on, will give you more energy and a renewed purpose in attaining your goals.
Part II of the mirror exercise is done right before bedtime. Looking into the mirror, you praise yourself for the good things that you’ve done that day. Everyone does something good in a day, no matter how small. I’ll use myself as an example: 
Patricia, you ate a salad for lunch, instead of pigging out at the buffet, and drank 10 glasses of water. When dessert was served for dinner, you just ate half and saved 300 calories.
You followed the worklist you made the night before and finished before time for dinner. You were dead tired at bedtime, but you brushed and flossed your teeth. After thanking myself for my accomplishments, I would look myself in the eye, and say, Patricia, I love you.”
I am not giving up on my arthritis pain and am constantly researching what I can do to make my life easier. Instead of just beaching on the couch, I ride my stationary bike or take a walk. My hands are the worst right now so I am using arthritis aids to reduce the pain, and they have been very helpful.
Try both of these mirror exercises from the “Success Principles” by Jack Canfield. You’ll probably feel silly at first, but keep going, and see what a dramatic effect it will have on your self-esteem and your ability to live life to the fullest.
