“The Future Depends on What You Do Today”

Be kind – also to yourself!

From a very young age we are taught to be kind to others. In fact, for most it comes naturally. But being kind to ourselves may not be as natural.

Why do you need to be kind to yourself?

Research has shown that kindness to yourself strengthens your sense of self-worth, it boosts your self-esteem, helps with confidence, improves optimism, reduces stress and improves resilience. Being kind to yourself is like treating yourself like a good friend. You care for your good friends and will not cause them harm; the same should apply to yourself.

Self-kindness is about self-love and self-compassion. It is about listening to your body and mind and what it needs on a regular basis. It is about creating self-care habits and routines that sustain and nourish you so that you can be the best version of yourself.

With that in mind, here are a couple of ways to show yourself some kindness.

  1. Become aware of your self-talk

Think about how you speak to the people you love and care about. Now, think about your self-talk. Be conscious about your inner voice. The more you can become aware of your self-talk, the more you can change it to be kind and friendly.

  1. Practise gratitude

Those of you that often read my blogs will know that I believe in the power of gratitude. Truth is that we often find that people who practise gratitude and notice the things they are thankful for, are happier and have a greater sense of wellbeing. My challenge to you is to keep a gratitude journal. Every day, write down three things that you are grateful for and you will see how your life is changing for the better.

  1. Reflection

Make time every day to give yourself some space to reflect on what is going on for you and how you are feeling. A few minutes to sit and think or write in a journal can help you process your thoughts and feelings and cope better.

  1. Self-care

Keeping healthy routines and rituals are an important way to look after yourself. These might be things like having breakfast, carving out some time for yourself in the day, planning your meals and exercises, doing things you enjoy, etc.

  1. Invest in your interests

Do things that really align with your interests and passions. If you have a creative streak, make time for a creative outlet. If you like being outdoors or doing sport, make time for these. So often we push these things down on our priority lists, not realising that these things bring about balance and mental health.

  1. Spend time in nature

There is a good reason why nature includes so many shades of green. Green is a calming colour and being out in nature is calming. Consider how you can make time to be with elements of the outdoors and natural world. This could be as simple as being outside in your garden, looking after your pot plants, or taking a walk in a park.

  1. Give yourself recognition

Often, we are quick to acknowledge the achievements of others, but slow to acknowledge our own. That has to stop. Become aware of your own achievements and give yourself recognition.

When you do something you are proud of, stop for a minute and dwell on it. Praise yourself and enjoy the achievement. Give yourself a compliment! Do not wait for others to do it!

  1. Forgive yourself

We all make mistakes; it makes us human. Maybe you did something in the past that you are not proud of, or perhaps you failed to stand up for yourself, or you let someone else get the better of you, or you may have missed a great opportunity because you got scared.

If you are angry at yourself, you need to show yourself kindness by stop blaming yourself. Promise yourself to do better from now on and let it go.

  1. Rest and recharge

There is a very good reason why depriving someone of sleep is so successfully used in interrogation techniques! You cannot be at your best and handle the challenges of life unless you take time to rest and recharge.

Do not fall into the trap of believing that you can catch up on sleep and rest somewhere in the future. You need to take care of yourself every day.

 

There is only one person in the world you will always have a relationship with: YOU. Therefore, you should make sure that you are a good companion to yourself. Live your best life by being kind to yourself.

Remember you have been criticising yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens. Louise L Hay.