Very often, when people are asked what they look out for in a friend, they mention the quality of kindness. Yes, kindness endears you to others. Apart from strengthening relationships, being kind gives you a sense of fulfillment. However, the real act of kindness starts with yourself. You know what they say “you can't give what you don't have.” It is difficult to be kind to others when you are not kind to yourself. Being kind to yourself begins with an expression of self-love. There's no denying the fact that it's a tough world out there and mistakes are unavoidable. So when things go wrong, how do you see yourself? Do you condemn yourself, concluding that you are worthless and deserve nothing good? It is quite unfortunate that most times, your worst critics are not your family or friends. Instead, it is you. So what if you made a mistake? Everybody does! In fact, without mistakes, you would not learn and grow. Bear in mind that if you cannot forgive your own mistakes, it will be impossible to overlook the imperfections of others. What this means is that you are likely to be critical of others. When you are genuinely kind towards yourself, it becomes easier to extend kindness to others. But how can you be to yourself? 1) Create Some “Me Time” It is totally okay to use your time to help others and make them happy. However, you could easily lose yourself, if you do not take out time to relax and do things that bring you joy. Be kind to yourself by engaging in activities that uplift you and help you live a better life. You can choose to draw, read, journal, listen to music or watch a movie.
Finding time each day to do the things you love reduces stress and anxiety. 2) Forgive yourself Whether you did something terrible in the past, you allowed someone take advantage of you, or you missed a great opportunity because you lacked confidence, you need to stop being angry at yourself. Being kind to yourself mean that you accept your shortcomings, challenges, and failures as part of your growth process. Let go of past mistakes and resolve to do better. If you cannot forgive yourself how can you possibly forgive others? Since being kind to others means treating them like you would treat yourself, you need to love yourself and be at peace with yourself. 3) Take Care of Yourself Regardless of your situation, do not neglect your needs. You need to care for yourself physically, mentally and emotionally. Pamper yourself and listen to your body. If you are kind to yourself, you will pay attention to what your body really needs at each moment. So if you need to take a break, do so. 4) Appreciate Yourself Do not wait until you reach a big milestone to appreciate yourself. You can start with the little things you know you are good at. List some of the things that you love about yourself as well as some of the things you have been able to achieve. Go through the list from time to time and update it as times passes by. Be your biggest fan and accept yourself just the way you are.
