We as human beings can be very judgemental and critical of ourselves. Many of us think we are not good enough, we don’t do enough, we compare ourselves to others and think we should be somewhere we are currently not. We believe when we gain certain credentials, acquire some possessions and many other things which are important to us, then the real life starts and we will be finally happy. This way we are not only postponing our true happiness to some future event, but we are also becoming edgy, feeling uneasy and often exhausted. We are not kind to ourselves, instead we are hard on ourselves. I speak for myself here. I happen to be a perfectionist. I like to have things done certain way and I often have high expectations of many things I do. But I have learnt many valuable lessons from my perfectionism. I know, when I go overboard with it, I need to take a step back and tune back into my soul. My soul always gives me the answers I need to know and reminds me to be kinder to myself. I learnt to accept that it is okay not to be perfect all the time. I learnt to pause, take a deep breath and focus on what really matters in my life (this can mean different things to different people). I have a few ideas which I would like to share with you. They helped me along my journey and I hope they will inspire you to start being kinder to yourself today.
Praise yourself
Instead of being critical of yourself, tell yourself how well you are doing. Here is an example. Look in the mirror and say: “I am so proud of you! You have done so well today!” If something doesn’t work out the way you hoped it would, be kind to yourself and say: “You have done your best today and you have learnt some new lessons. Next time, you’ll do so much better! You can do it. Don’t give up!” Supporting yourself every day is very important. I support and praise myself on a daily basis. It empowers me. Also remember, you are allowed to make mistakes in life. Sometimes you can take five steps forward, another time two steps back. Know this and be kind to yourself. You are always doing the best you can.
Accept compliments
Many people don’t know how to accept compliments from others. If somebody tells you: “I love your hair or You have done a fantastic job today!” What is your response? Do you reply: “No, do you really think so? I think I soon need to visit a hairdresser.” Or: “Ohh, no, it was just a pure luck!” A better response to both of those questions would be: “Thank you so much, you are so kind to say so!” I have learnt this powerful lesson a long time ago. Every time someone pays me a compliment, my response is always short and simple: “Thank you very much!” I learnt to love myself and I learnt to accept compliments with gratitude. It’s an act of unconditional love and all of us deserve it. Be kinder to yourself and accept compliments from others. It will not only increase your self-esteem, but it will also teach you to love and appreciate yourself more.
Listen to your body and soul
Being kind to yourself also means listening to your body and soul. Become kinder to yourself by paying attention to the messages your body and your soul are constantly giving you. When you feel tired, take a break. When you feel you need a vacation, organise it. It doesn’t have to be far away or expensive. It can be a weekend break at the mountains nearby or a day out in nature. Do you lack energy? Think about your latest diet and make some adjustments. Also exercise. Any kind of exercise is always good. And you don’t even have to go to the gym. You can exercise at home for just 10 minutes a day or go for a walk. Listen to your body, when it’s telling you to sleep. Try having a goodnight sleep as much as possible. When you are well rested also your performance at work will be a prove of that. Look after yourself and listen to your body and your soul. They are always talking to you. Our minds often get very loud, so we don’t hear the important messages they want to share.
So these are just few simple suggestions how to start being kinder to yourself. Start today, you definitely won’t regret it.