How do we break the habit of not treating ourselves with kindness?
1) Decide that you will begin to start focusing on the positives instead of the negatives. Reflect each day on what you did right instead of the mistakes that you made. (Everyone makes mistakes. It is how we learn.)
2) Take time to do something that makes you happy. Instead of telling yourself that you are too busy or that it will cost too much, allow yourself to do something special. It is important to give yourself a treat.
3) Take care of both your physical and emotional well-being. Eat a healthy diet, go out for a walk or a bike ride, and take time to sit quietly. Yoga and meditation are both activities that will help to calm you.
4) Be open to change. What you wanted in the past for your life may not be what is best for you now. Explore new possibilities and know that it may not only be okay to make a change, but it may also be the best thing that ever happened to you. Changes do not have to be big. Even small changes can make a difference in your well-being.
5) Allow yourself to love and to be loved. Open your heart to the people around you, and open your heart to loving yourself. Even sharing a smile is something that not only makes others feel better but can be a loving thing you can do for yourself.
a good and important post, laura. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
ReplyDeleteChanges all around me and I yearn for my comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteBut the winter storm has just arrived, the house is cosy. Such a grateful privilege to look out at grim weather from inside!
Being in a cozy house as storms surround us is always wonderful, Diana.
DeleteI probably need to work on #1 and #4.
ReplyDeleteFocusing on the negatives is a habit that many of us have, Kelly but it is one tat can definitely be changed with a little effort :)
DeleteVery good advice Laura. It's hard sometimes to be as kind to ourselves as we try to be to others...a reminder is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteJen
I think we live much of our lives being not kind to ourselves. It is a learned behavior and it is a behavior that we need to change.
DeleteLaura, what a wonderful post! Sometimes we do need to be reminded and you did it so well! Thank you! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteNancy
I hope you have a wonderful weekend too, Nancy.
DeleteGreat thoughts, Laura. I really like #1. It's easy to get caught up in the negatives sometimes...
ReplyDeleteI chalk it all up to religious guilt from my childhood :) But it's stuck in there no matter what :) Posts like yours eradicate it for awhile then it's BACK :) I think that women go through this more than men, though...some sort of programming...
ReplyDeleteSuch an important message...again we are on the same wavelength....I am on a journey to be kinder to myself.
ReplyDelete