Someone rightly said, ‘Kindness is free; sprinkle it everywhere.’
We often underestimate the power of kindness, allowing our judgmental nature to take its course. Little do we realize that kindness alone is enough to make the world a better place to live. And even when we do, we put ourselves last in the queue, depriving ourselves of the compassion and understanding we deserve.
We do not realize the gravity of being our harshest critics.
Do you think it is justified?
Shouldn’t we be the first ones to give ourselves the kindness and compassion we deserve? We think that being our critics is the best we can do for ourselves, forgetting that we, too, need our own warmth and kindness.
In a world where there is no dearth of critics, we shouldn’t add one more to it, depriving ourselves of the love and tenderness that we require from ourselves. Also, being kind to ourselves goes a long way in creating the life we truly want. To discover our true purpose and pursue our destiny, it is imperative that we learn to be kind to ourselves, especially during moments of failure or self-doubt.
What does it mean to be kind to yourself?
Being kind to ourselves means giving ourselves the same care and consideration that we usually offer to others, whether it’s deciding to forgive ourselves or embracing our imperfections. We may not realize it, but we become our toughest critics and spend our entire lives thinking that we must shape our conduct in the most desired and accepted way.
Let’s understand it with an example. Lisa, a marketing professional, was given tough deadlines to complete her marketing assignments. She burned the candle from both ends and made it possible anyway. Despite giving her best and meeting the targets, she still criticized the work quality in her mind and critically compared her performance with that of her colleagues.
Was it something you’d ever say or do to a friend? Probably not. Why? Because you’ll be considerate enough to remain polite and humble. Then why aren’t you with yourself? Think again!
Ways to Be Kind to Yourself
When we reach the stage of realization that we aren’t kind enough to ourselves, we have hit a significant mark. We aren’t far from implementing a few steps and finding ourselves the solace and relief that we deserve.
#1: Do Positive Self-Talk
Changing the way we talk to ourselves determines how we perceive our worth and navigate challenges. When we make it a point to stand up for ourselves and speak with the same kindness and encouragement as we would to a close friend, only then do we realize how hard we are going on ourselves. Result? Adding insult to injury. This means that instead of becoming our supporters and picking ourselves in the hard times, we end up being our own enemies.
🎭 Quick Activity:
When negative thoughts arise, pause and ask yourself, “Would I say this to a friend in the same situation?” If not, reframe your thoughts with more compassion and understanding.
Try reframing your inner dialogs and saying things that add to your courage and serve as an inspiration. Drop every single dialog that demeans you or makes you feel less about yourself. You may make use of tools like self-affirmation cards that remind you of your strengths and positive qualities.
SHOP ON AMAZON#2: Practice Self-compassion
Believe it or not, practicing self-compassion is crucial for our overall well-being. Self-compassion helps reduce anxiety, stress, and depression and allows us to have a stable mindset. Just like we try to be polite, humble, and compassionate towards others to soothe them when they are upset, it is equally important that we treat ourselves with the same compassion and concern. We might overlook the need to improve our equation with ourselves, but it goes a long way in ensuring our mental and emotional well-being. We might not get material success following traits like self-compassion, but understand that it may pose extreme harm to our being in the form of stress, anxiety, and depression.
#3: Set Healthy Boundaries
Among the important steps to practice kindness for yourself is setting healthy boundaries. There are times when we violate our own boundaries following social obligations. Little do we realize that it can have a severe impact on our own well-being. Understand it in this way that by doing so, you are messing with your own internal compass. Now, think, how would you get the directions when your true feelings and instincts are clouded by self-doubt and negativity?
If you don’t know where to start, you can begin by listening to your immediate feelings. Acknowledge them for what they dictate, and soon, you’ll reconnect with yourself. It could be as small as saying no to someone when you want to or not forcing yourself to do a certain thing when it isn’t coming from your inside.
#4: Take Time to Rest & Relax
Life will never leave time in your hands; it is you who has to find it amid your daily chores and tasks. Practicing kindness to yourself means giving yourself the discount to enjoy life alongside fulfilling your duties and responsibilities. This is where you must give yourself the time and resources to relax and rejuvenate. Neglecting our downtime can cost us our peace and happiness.
When it’s about taking the time to rest and relax, you can choose whatever works for you. It could be as small as investing your time in doing activities like reading, writing, painting, and gardening or as adventurous as planning a holiday trip to a place where you could feel refreshed and revived.
#5: Focus on Self-Care
Self-care is crucial and automatically comes into play when we are being kind to ourselves. We might not realize its relevance at first, but we understand its importance when we start practicing it. Activities may range from taking care of your physical body to indulging in activities that soothe your mental space. You can try investing your time in eating healthy and doing daily exercise to improve your overall well-being. Also, there are ways in which you can work towards improving your emotional health. Mindfulness, meditation, and positive self-talk are a few examples to mention.
Self-care is not limited to our physical and mental health. If there’s anything that’s bothering us on an emotional level, it is equally important to look into it and find ways to address those feelings, whether through journaling, talking to a trusted friend, or seeking professional support.
Benefits of Being Kind to Yourself
- Self-kindness reduces the symptoms of stress and anxiety—promoting a positive mindset.
- It adds to our happiness and fosters healthier relationships.
- It acts as a greater motivation and increases emotional awareness
- It facilitates better decision-making and enhances decision-making.
- Self-kindness diminishes negative self-talk and improves our overall well-being.
- It increases our resilience and enhances life satisfaction.
Final Thoughts
Cultivating kindness is not a one-time effort. It is a persistent practice and demands complete dedication and devotion. Once you show your commitment to being kind to yourself, you’ll see your life transforming right in front of your eyes. Just as you think that everyone deserves to be treated with proper respect, love, and warmth, the same applies to you. It’s just that we hardly realize and continue to be our harshest critics. Simply drop the strict and hard self-standards, and you’ll find life effortlessly unfolding before you.
How does practicing self-compassion benefit our mental and emotional well-being?
