5 Ways to Be Kind to Yourself

In today's climate, it is more important than ever to be kind to yourself. There are plenty of stressors to go around, and it's impossible to dodge them all. Sometimes you've just got to give yourself the kindness that others won't or haven't. It sounds like a pretty cool thing to do, but what are some ways we can be kind to ourselves?

Take a Day (or a Few)

There are times when you just need to take a little time off to give yourself the opportunity to unwind. If you can take a day to do whatever it is that makes you feel special, worthy and cared for, do it. If you can only take an hour or two, that's okay too. The point is to give yourself the time to do whatever it is that you want to do... even if the thing you want to do most is absolutely nothing. You deserve time to yourself, to use however you see fit.

Forgive

The saying goes, "The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is strongest. And the first to forget is happiest." It takes courage and strength to forgive yourself. Sometimes we make mistakes. Mistakes are a part of living, after all. But sometimes we punish ourselves unnecessarily harshly or repeatedly instead of forgiving ourselves. Extending a little grace allows us to move forward with the wisdom gained from an experience. Withholding forgiveness from yourself can create a lot of negative energy that can block you from achieving a lot of your goals.

Ask For Help

Have you ever heard it said, "It takes a village..." or "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together?" There's nothing wrong with asking for help. Not a one of us has all the answers to every question. And we don't have to try to do it all. Don't worry about what someone else might think or say because you need help. Lean on someone else when you need to, and congratulate yourself for being smart enough to know when help is necessary.

Celebrate Yourself

Take time to appreciate yourself. Did you make a really delicious meal? Did you discover a cool new local shop? Were you able to solve a problem at work? Did you make someone smile or laugh today? Toot your own horn and celebrate yourself. Not only will it make you feel good about yourself, it will also remind you of your worthiness.

Change Your Self-Talk

We all have negative thoughts. There's just no getting around it. But when we become more aware of our thoughts and the way that we speak to ourselves, we can stop some of these negative thoughts in their tracks. You have the ability to choose your thoughts and reprogram your thinking. Every time you catch yourself speaking negatively to yourself, change what you're saying. Reframe it in a positive light or choose to tell yourself something different.

We are often more willing to be kind to others, more than we are to be kind to ourselves. But why? Some of us don't notice, some of us don't see ourselves as deserving--the reasons are different for each of us. But a little kindness can go a long way, whether it's directed inward or outward. Be sure to make it a point to be kind to yourself everyday. It could be as simple as living your truth everyday, reciting affirmations or not worrying about what others think about you. Just be kind. It's guaranteed to do you a world of good.