Be Your Own Bestie
Treat Yourself As You Would A Friend
A lot of focus on relationships this month. One of the most important relationships you can have, is the one with yourself! It might surprise you to hear that one of the best ways to cultivate a hopeful, optimistic outlook is to practice some radical self-love. Frequently people confuse self-love with self-indulgence or even selfishness. But being kind to yourself is just as important as being kind to others, if not more so.
1. Self-Compassion Makes You More Optimistic
Being kind to yourself means you can stop that vicious cycle of self-blame and recrimination. It prevents you from ruminating on past mistakes and builds your resilience and confidence so you can pick yourself up and get back on track.
When you are kind and encouraging to yourself, your anxiety levels drop, your mood lifts, and you become more optimistic and hopeful about the future.
2. Cultivate Mindfulness
Perhaps the best way to start your self-love practice is to adopt a more mindful attitude to life. Mindfulness focuses on the acceptance of who you are, where you are right now. With all your flaws and all your greatness. Accept that whatever you're experiencing and feeling in the present moment is okay.
Mindfulness and self-compassion help you to overcome denial and hesitation in your reality. It allows space for hope to come in.
3. Accept that Hard Times Are Part of the Deal
Self-love accepts that all human lives are a mixture of highs and lows. Often the low times are a result of things that are out of your control. All you can do is decide how you're going to react. Will you be overwhelmed, or will you be angry? Or will you ride the waves, learn from your experiences, and grow as a result?
In times of fear or illness or natural disasters or any other of life's stressors, self-love allows you to take guilt or blame out of the equation and work through whatever you're faced with.
4. Treat Yourself As You Would Your Bestie
Take a moment to look at how you're reacting. What is your self-talk saying to you? Are you reassuring yourself that things will work out okay, or are you beating yourself up for something you did or didn't do? Would you talk to your best friend like that? How would they feel?
Be as gentle in your self-talk as you would to a loved one who is in crisis. Be loving and kind, and reassuring. Extend the hand of hope to your own heart, and help yourself on the first steps back towards better times.
I hope you found this useful and will make a point to access how you are practicing self-love, compassion and mindfulness. Be your own bestie and love yourself with the grace to grow forward. If you need help in this area, be sure to connect the current community events and or reach out for a free coaching consultation to learn about what programs we have to offer. I’m rooting for you!
