Be Kind To Yourself

I certainly appreciate it when others are kind to me, and I feel better when I've been kind to them.

Kindness goes a long way! Numerous research studies have proven that the #1 trait people want in a mate/spouse/partner is KINDNESS.

Manners, chivalry.."please," "thank you," they all go a long way!

Lately, I have found myself telling most of my friends "be kind to yourself," I've said it a lot lately. And it got me thinking...kindness is pretty awesome! Most of us (I'd like to believe) are kind to others, but what about being kind to yourself?

What about releasing some of the pressure(s) that YOU put yourself under? What about stepping back and giving yourself the gift of kindness and loving honesty?

Being kind to yourself doesn't mean slacking off on your responsibilities. It doesn't mean blowing up at others or blowing off obligations. It means recognizing the fact that your actions DO have consequences. That you ARE responsible for your own life. But that you are also a human-BEING...not a human DOING. (Like Wynonna Judd always says!).

Being kind to yourself can involve the following:

*Standing up for yourself when you feel defeated, un-appreciated or all around treated badly.

*Not taking some one's crap for days/weeks/years on end when you KNOW you DESERVE better and have EARNED better.

*Allowing yourself room/time to THINK & BREATHE...without chaos.

*Being honest with yourself about your flaws and shortcomings, but ultimately, celebrating the many ways in which you EXCEL! And especially the areas in which you TOTALLY ROCK!

*It means putting your 'to-do' list away for a day, or at the very least, putting YOURSELF on that 'to-do' list!

*It may also mean putting your spouse on your 'to-do' list if that's one of the ways you cope with & release stress! ;)

*Eating a favorite food, listening to a favorite song or taking some time out during the day to do something just for YOU!

*Using a favorite bathroom product--lotion, hair gel, body wash, soap, shave gel, razor. And don't tell me men don't care at all about this stuff, because I know they do--at least to a point!

*Reminding yourself of the good things and great times you've been fortunate enough to experience in your life!

*It means KNOWING that you are worth it! (Not trying to channel the Lorea'l Slogan here, just saying! They have a point, you ARE worth it!)

*It's also not about being HIGH and MIGHTY and overly proud of boastful! But it IS about CELEBRATING who you are in your own unique ways!

That is what being kind to yourself is.

And today, I am proud that I was kind to: my husband, the telemarketer who called my house and my cat! And of course, I'm being extra-kind to myself!

As always, thank you, Lord, for it all!

In Light N' Love,
-Sarah Liz :)