Take it Easy on Yourself

Are you a giver, doer or 'you can always count on me' type of person?  When was the last time you treated yourself as well as you treat your friends and family?  It’s a simple question that may not be easy to answer.  Many of us find the time and energy to be supportive or understanding to
others, yet often berate ourselves for perceived personal failures.  

How  kindly people view themselves, known as self-compassion, is the basis for a burgeoning new area of psychological research and an area of self-care that we all must learn to adopt and adapt into our lives. The research suggests that giving ourselves a break, taking time for ourselves and accepting our imperfections may be the first step toward better health.  People who score high on tests of self-compassion have less depression & anxiety, and, tend to be happier and more optimistic.

Think of times when you’ve helped someone who is struggling in school or work or eating too much junk food.  You offer support, like getting professional guidance or making an effort to find and prepare healthful foods the person will enjoy.  But when we find ourselves in similar situations (i.e. struggling at home or work, overeating and gaining weight) we often fall into a cycle of self-criticism and negativity. This can leave us feeling even less motivated to change.

With self-compassion, if you care about yourself, you do what’s healthy for you rather than what’s harmful to you. How can you start to do to develop self-compassion? 
You can consider:
    -  Creating a visual storyboard
    -  Meditating or finding a personal mantra
    -  Writing yourself a letter of support listing your best and worst traits
  
Remembering that Nobody is perfect.  Think of steps you might take to help feel better about yourself



Incorporating a compassion break into your day




So, go easy on yourself, today and everyday – you, your health
and happiness will be grateful.