MIRROR MEDITATION

A research-based meditation by Tara Well, PhD called
“a revelation”
in the New York Times

Break Free from Stress   •   Tame Your Inner Critic   •   Awaken Self-Compassion

Break Free from Stress
Tame Your Inner Critic
Awaken Self-Compassion

Discover Mirror Meditation
It’s time to come face to face with your true self.

Available now!

Based on the latest neuroscience, Mirror Meditation offers mindful practices for increasing your self-awareness, managing stress and emotions, developing self-compassion, and increasing your confidence and personal presence. Using the three principles of mindfulness meditation—attention to the present moment, open awareness, and kind intention toward oneself—you’ll realize just how much your self-criticisms are affecting you. Then you’ll have a choice—and a practice—to treat yourself with more self-acceptance. If you’re ready to face yourself with clarity and compassion and to shift into a more authentic way of being present, this book will show you the way.

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Praise for Mirror Meditation

“Tara Well is an extraordinarily creative psychologist. In Mirror Meditation, she introduces a powerful new approach to self-awareness that encourages people to look at themselves and each other with compassion and clarity. As our world becomes more complex and uncertain, there’s an urgent need for this book. Mirror Meditation is a truly unique offering that is sure to change the lives of many readers worldwide and how they literally see themselves.” 

—Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD, host of The Psychology Podcast, and author of nine books, including Transcend

“Mirror Meditation is an important contribution to understanding how we see ourselves and the world around us. Tara Well’s approach is smartly based on science, yet her true gift is making these lessons accessible, personal, and even fun. This book is for anyone who wants to experience the power of seeing themselves clearly and compassionately.”

 —Tasha Eurich, PhD, organizational psychologist, and New York Times bestselling author of Insight and Bankable Leadership 

“Mirror Meditation is a game changer! If you ever struggle to believe in yourself, Mirror Meditation will help you reconnect to your worth and move forward to create a richer and more rewarding life.” 

—Margie Warrell, PhD, speaker, and author of You’ve Got This

“What happens in your mind when you look at yourself in the mirror? Drawing on psychological research and a deep understanding of human selfhood, Tara Well provides new insights into the nature of self-reflection. Her book is full of powerful stories, sage psychological advice, fascinating scientific findings, and provocative insights for living a full and authentic life.”

 —Dan P. McAdams, PhD, Henry Wade Rogers professor of psychology at Northwestern University, and author of The Stories We Live By

“What a gem of a book this is! Tara Well’s Mirror Meditation is creative, fresh, and has the potential to bring great relief to many. The book is beautifully written, yet brings together research from social psychology to neuroscience. With clear exercises and tips for readers, it is a unique addition to the field of mindfulness, meditation, and psychology at large.” 

—Robert T. Muller, PhD, professor of clinical psychology, and author of Trauma and the Struggle to Open Up 

“Mirror Meditation is a very valuable resource, providing tools that are practical, easy to implement, and based on current research findings in brain science, health, and personality psychology. Its focus on increasing self-awareness, reducing self-objectification, and increasing mindfulness are timely and important in the era of Zoom meetings and seeing one’s own face on screen all day. Tara Well is clearly an expert in her field, providing tools and research-based advice that is fresh, workable, and helps us relate to ourselves with greater self-compassion.” 

—Melanie Greenberg, PhD, clinical psychologist, and author of The Stress-Proof Brain

As seen in:

From self-criticism
to self-compassion.

Learn to see yourself
with kinder eyes.

Motivational psychologist Tara Well, PhD has created Mirror Meditation based on the neuroscience of mirroring and psychological research on stress-management, self-compassion, and emotional resilience.

Based on the three principles of mindfulness meditation:

  • Attention in the present moment
  • Open awareness
  • Kind intention toward oneself

Mirror Meditation is a mindful practice for increasing your self-awareness, managing stress and emotions, developing self-compassion, and increasing your confidence and personal presence.

The Research

Our research is exploring the effects of mirror meditation in the laboratory. Preliminary findings show that students who looked at themselves in the mirror for 10 minutes a day in silence with no goal other than to be present with themselves reported better stress management and more self-compassion after just 2 weeks.

When we ask people what changes they notice from doing mirror meditation, three themes stand out.

  1. A New Look at Self-Criticism

The mirror makes people more aware of just how much they criticize themselves – whether it’s their appearance or something else about themselves that they habitually find unacceptable. The mirror brings it to light. The mirror will reveal just how much your criticisms are affecting you. Then you’ll have a choice, and a practice, to treat yourself with more self-acceptance and self-compassion.

  1. Increased Emotional Resilience

The mirror reflects your facial expressions with exquisite accuracy. So you’ll become more aware of how you’re feeling moment-to-moment, which can be a bit surprising at first. The mirror allows you to work with your emotions from a different perspective. Your capacity to feel and accept a broader range of emotions will grow as you do the practice. Awareness and acceptance of your own emotions is the foundation for developing emotional resilience.

  1. Improved Face-to-Face Communication

Many people notice a positive impact on their relationships. This is an added bonus you might not be expecting because the meditation is designed to help you improve your relationship with yourself. It also allows you to be much more aware of how you are seeing others and being seen by them. By practicing giving yourself your full attention, you’ll develop greater capacity to be present with others and feel more comfortable and confident in face-to-face communication, so the quality of your relationships will improve.

Mirror Meditation with Dr. Tara Well | From self-criticism to self-compassion

“The mirror was my favorite childhood toy, but as I grew older it became a vehicle for self-criticism and scrutiny of my appearance. In recent years, I re-discovered the mirror as a transformative tool for meditation. Based on my work as a psychologist and research scientist, and many years of meditation practice, I developed this mirror-based meditation program and taught hundreds of people to see beyond their surface appearance, release their self-criticisms, focus their attention, and develop kinder self-awareness.” – Tara Well, PhD (Founder, Mirror Meditation)

Tara Well, PhD is a research scientist, motivational psychologist, and associate professor of psychology at Barnard College of Columbia University where she researches mirrors and reflections.

She developed the mirror-based meditation called “a revelation” in the New York Times. She has taught hundreds of people how to release self-criticism, manage their emotion, and improve their face-to-face communication. Tara teaches mirror meditation, in person and virtually, to individuals and groups around the world.

Her book, Mirror Meditation: The Power of Neuroscience and Self-Reflection to Overcome Self-Criticism, Gain Confidence and See Yourself with Compassion was released in June 2022.

As an expert on self-awareness, body-image, self-compassion, narcissism, emotional resilience, and meditation, Dr. Tara Well has appeared on NBC Nightly News and has been quoted in The New York Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post, Vice, Bloomberg, Business Insider, Forbes, INC, Harper’s Bazaar, Shape, Allure, Life & Style Magazine, and many other media publications. Her Psychology Today column, “The Clarity” has over a million readers.

Dr. Tara Well partners with major companies in the health and beauty industry and works with national and international organizations. Recent projects include promoting positive body image in girls and women, using mirror meditation for stress-management and emotional resilience, and the role of attention and motivation in mindful media consumption.

What Mirror Meditation Can Teach You

Tara Well, PhD presented her TEDx Talk in Ocala Florida on November 2nd to a sold out crowd. She tells her personal story of the importance of mirrors in her own life, and shares her amazing research findings. Learn how a simple mirror can shift self-criticism to self-compassion, help you better understand your emotions, and improve your face-to-face communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mirror Meditation a form of therapy?

Mirror Meditation is a cognitive-behavioral technique. It is not substitute for individualized mental health therapy provided by a licensed mental health professional. I make no claim to cure, treat, diagnose, or otherwise provide mental or behavioral healthcare. I simply serve as a meditation instructor and offer suggestions to guide your process of greater self-awareness, and hold a positive intention for your psychological growth, health and happiness.

Does Mirror Meditation promote “selfie” narcissism?

Mirror Meditation does not increase narcissism. Our research finds it increases self-awareness by increasing your awareness of your thoughts and feelings. Mirror Meditation is a silent mindful meditation – so it does not involve positive affirmations and self-adoration exercises. Instead, it facilitates honesty and acceptance – and ultimately self-compassion. Mirror Meditation helps you see underneath your public self-image and discover your true self. You’ll learn to see all aspects of yourself – the positive, the negative, and all shades of grey. As you practice self-acceptance and authenticity, the need for validation and admiration from others can become less important. You’ll be more open and honest and genuinely curious about others — which is a less narcissistic, self-involved way of relating to others.

What if I don’t like looking at myself in the mirror?

Mirror meditation may be very beneficial for you. People usually avoid looking at themselves in the mirror because their image activates uncomfortable thoughts and feelings – either about their appearance or something else about themselves that they don’t like. Seeing your own face may evoke feelings of shame, sadness, fear, anger, or disgust. Avoiding mirrors may keep you from feeling these negative emotions, while looking directly at yourself in a mirror may initially intensify these feelings. So it makes sense that you’d want to avoid looking in the mirror – but the problem of self-criticism and its negative influence on your wellbeing remains. Mirror meditation can help you shift from self-criticism to self-compassion, if you are willing to take a look!

How is Mirror Meditation related to other forms of meditation?

Mirror meditation is based on the three principles of mindfulness meditation: attention in the present moment, open awareness, and kind intention toward oneself. Meditation is often done with eyes closed. Some traditional forms of meditation involve gazing at the fixed point, known as a Drishti. Having a focal point like a candle flame or even a spot on the wall can help focus your attention. Focusing on yourself is more complex and powerful. You’ll become more mindful of the thoughts and feelings evoked by seeing your own image – and able to work with them from this unique perspective.

Does Mirror Meditation involve saying positive affirmations in the mirror?

Mirror meditation is a silent mindful meditation. You sit with yourself in silence and experience whatever arises. Although saying positive affirmations like, “I love myself” and “I am beautiful” in the mirror can be helpful to temporarily change your state of mind, being silent as you gaze allows you to see yourself in an honest and deep way. As you build tolerance for being present with yourself without needing to do or say anything, you’ll develop more self-acceptance and self-compassion will naturally arise from your experience.

“I took part in a meditation practice pioneered by a colleague at Barnard, Tara Well, called “Mirror Meditation,” which is pretty much what it sounds like: You sit before a mirror with your face (and body) at rest, with the deceptively simple goal of ‘being in the present moment with open awareness and having a kind intention toward yourself.’ When I first embarked on this practice I feared it would be too — well, I believe the technical term is ‘woo-woo.’ But it was a revelation.”

– Jennifer Finney Boylan, Writer in Residence at Barnard College of Columbia University, New York Times op-ed columnist, and author of 15 books including the National Bestseller, She’s Not There

“It was a profound exercise in cultivating insight: I saw inside of myself in a way that I am not used to, and really felt the movement of my criticisms as they arose. The sharp awareness I developed was painful, but paradoxically liberating. If you can experiment with the idea of looking at yourself the way a stranger might look at you, you’ll at least find that those [criticisms] aren’t even there. You may even fall a little bit in love.”

– Charlotte Lieberman, journalist & New York Times op-ed writer