Be kind is something we hear a lot.

Though being kind to others is one of the best things we can do today we are going to talk about kindness towards our own self.

No matter where you go, no matter what you see you must not compare yourself with others. Not when others are doing good but also not when others are have it worse than you. A lot of times we hear the narrative that we must be grateful for what we have or we must be grateful for life in general because there are lot of people who have it worse. When we tell ourselves this all the time, we are not only looking down at our struggles but we also saying that because someone has it worse our pain doesn’t count. That is not right.

We need to be kind to ourselves even in these conditions. We need to acknowledge our struggles even if they are nothing as compared to others.

So why should we be kind to ourselves? Here’s why:

1. Practicing self-kindness supports mental health by reducing self-criticism and negative self-talk.
2. Being kind to ourselves cultivates emotional well-being and self-acceptance.
3. Self-kindness enhances productivity and motivation by fostering resilience and learning from setbacks.
4. Improved relationships result from modeling kindness towards ourselves.
5. Self-compassion is linked to better physical health outcomes.
6. Kindness promotes self-awareness and personal growth without harsh self-judgment.
7. Practicing self-kindness contributes to greater happiness and life satisfaction.
8. It helps to reduce the negative effects of perfectionism.
9. Self-kindness nurtures empathy for others, leading to more supportive relationships.
10. Engaging in self-care practices improves overall well-being and resilience.

Now, the other thing is: when you are kind to yourself you also become kind towards others.

Here’s how being kind to yourself positively influences your behavior and interactions with others:

1. Empathy and Understanding: When you treat yourself with kindness, you become more empathetic and understanding towards others’ struggles and challenges.
2. Less Judgment: Self-kindness reduces self-judgment, which in turn helps you become less judgmental towards others. You embrace imperfections in yourself and others with greater acceptance.
3. Supportive Relationships: Being kind to yourself helps you establish healthier boundaries and communicate more effectively, leading to more supportive and nurturing relationships.
4. Deeper Connections: By nurturing a compassionate relationship with yourself, you develop a deeper emotional connection with others.
5. Less Comparison: Self-kindness decreases the tendency to compare yourself to others, allowing you to appreciate and celebrate others’ successes genuinely.
6. Positive Influence: When you demonstrate self-kindness, you become a positive role model for others, inspiring them to treat themselves and others with greater kindness.
7. Conflict Resolution: A self-kind approach encourages a more constructive and understanding approach to conflict resolution, seeking resolutions that benefit all parties involved.
8. Increased Empathy: Self-kindness fosters a greater sense of empathy, as you can recognize and relate to the emotions and experiences of others.
9. Lifting Others Up: When you’re kind to yourself, you are more likely to uplift and support others, creating a more positive and encouraging environment.
10. Authenticity and Vulnerability: Embracing self-kindness allows you to be more authentic and vulnerable with others, fostering deeper and more meaningful connections.

Being kind to yourself forms the foundation for cultivating kindness and compassion towards others and so it is very important to be kind to yourself.

Not being kind towards yourself can make you bitter. Being unkind towards yourself can lead to:

1. Increased self-criticism and negative self-talk.
2. Lowered self-esteem and self-worth.
3. Heightened stress and anxiety levels.
4. Difficulty in handling challenges and setbacks.
5. Strained relationships with others due to internal struggles.
6. Emotional repression and difficulty expressing feelings.
7. Engaging in self-destructive behaviors or habits.
8. Reduced motivation and lack of self-belief.
9. Inability to set healthy boundaries in relationships.
10. Hindered personal growth and self-improvement.

So all in all you can see that we all can benefit from a little kindness…towards ourselves… next time when you compare yourself with someone, when perfectionist in you doesn’t allow you to be happy, when you think that you could have done better… remember to be kind to yourself.

Daily writing prompt

What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

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