Learn To Be Kind To Yourself

Hazelle

Many of us may have grown up being taught the importance of being kind, but we easily assume that this means to only be kind to others. We may forget that we need to be kind to ourselves so that we can grow through hardship and radiate more positivity!

1. Don’t forget to forgive yourself

It is easy to forgive and to forget, especially towards others who have done you wrong, yet perhaps it is harder to do the same towards yourself when you make mistakes. Forgiving yourself doesn’t mean that you should set low expectations for yourself; it just means that instead of ruminating over a mistake, you should accept and grow from it! After all, it is human nature to err, but we too can choose our attitude towards the mistakes that we make.

2. Embrace the ‘you’ of today

You may not be where you want to be yet, but there are definitely things that you can appreciate about yourself today! In order to lead the mindful life that we so desire, we have to appreciate ourselves in the present. Whether you are at the peak of life or feel like you have hit rock bottom, embracing your present self can remind you of the power you possess in charting your own life’s course.

3. Seek support

Being kind to ourselves also means reaching out to others when in need. We should not feel as if we are burdening other people with our problems, but seek help and advice from those who may have the capability to do so! Just as how we would try to find the best solution for our loved ones, we too must seek external help when we are unable to solve our problems on our own.

4. Self-care

Engaging in positive holistic self-care routines can also help you to practice self-kindness! Depending on what uplifts your spirits, you could try indulging in more of such healthy activities. Some people like to exercise or go for massages as a form of physical self-care, while others like to have some ‘me-time’ and read a book or two as a form of emotional and spiritual self-care. You could try out some of these activities and make it a part of your lifestyle!

5. Positive self-talk

Positive self-talk can be a powerful tool to help boost your self-esteem in addition to self-kindness. Just as how we would not readily hurl insults at others, we should not degrade ourselves by engaging in negative self-talk. By constantly surrounding ourselves with negative thoughts such as “I am not good enough”, we are allowing ourselves to be stuck in a rut! However, when we practice positive self-talk by saying “I am competent and capable” or “I will be able to overcome this”, we are providing ourselves with trust and motivation that will eventually translate into positive outcomes.

It is often said that “you can’t pour from an empty cup”, and thus we must aim to take care of ourselves first!

About Hazelle

Chief trainer of The Moneyball Investors Playbook program and founder of The Joyful Investors, a financial education firm that seeks to help avid investors learn to invest better and make the journey a joyful one. I graduated with a first class honors in Bachelor of Accountancy from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and started my auditing career in one of the Big Four. I believe that once we know how to build our wealth sustainably, we can then live our best lives ever.