The Power of Self-Kindness: A Guide to Nurturing Yourself
What is Self-Kindness?
Self-kindness is the practice of being understanding, and supportive toward oneself, especially during times of stress, anxiety, struggle, or difficulty. It involves treating yourself with the same care and concern that you would offer to a friend or loved one who is going through a challenging time. Self-kindness can be a tool for managing anxiety and stress, as it involves acknowledging your own emotions and challenges, and responding with warmth and empathy, rather than criticism or judgment.
How to Practice Self-Kindness
- Acknowledge Your Emotions: Take a moment to recognise and accept your emotions, whether they are feelings of sadness, frustration, or anger. Acknowledge that it’s okay to feel this way. Consider what you need in this moment to effectively ride the wave of the emotion. Perhaps, it is a walk in nature, a cup of tea or your favourite playlist of music.
- Talk to Yourself Kindly: Use kind and soothing language when you are self-reflecting. Speak to yourself as you would to a friend, offering words of comfort and support.
- Practice Self-Care: Engage in activities that nourish your body and mind, such as taking a walk, meditating, or spending time with loved ones. Taking care of yourself is a form of self-kindness and self-compassion.
- Remember Common Humanity: Remind yourself that part of the human experience is to feel a range of emotions: anger, sadness, happiness, joy and pleasure. You are not alone. When things get tough, reach out to a friend or loved one for support. Connecting with loved ones and your communities may give you the strength to move through the emotion and/or the challenging time effectively.
- Be Mindful: Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings without judgement. When you take some time out of your day to be mindful and notice your feelings and thoughts, you are practising being an observer of your feelings and thoughts and not getting attached and/or caught up with them. Mindfulness helps you maintain a balanced perspective and may prevent you from being overly critical or harsh toward yourself.
Self-kindness can be a powerful tool for enhancing your psychological well-being, and may help you to better navigate life’s ups and downs with ease and compassion.
