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Although we rarely talk about it, being kind to ourselves is crucial for our mental and physical well-being. Being kind to ourselves, known as self-compassion, means to treat ourselves as we would treat a good friend.
Self-compassion means treating yourself with the same kindness, care, and understanding you’d offer a good friend, especially during difficult times, failures, or perceived shortcomings. It involves recognizing that all humans experience hard times, and rather than isolating and judging ourselves, we should understand that these struggles are all a part of the human experience. Another way to put it is to apply the Golden Rule to ourselves.
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Here are examples of being kind to oneself.
- Take a walk in nature several times a week.
- Allow yourself to appreciate your accomplishments or efforts, large or small.
- Forgive yourself when you make a mistake.
- Set personal boundaries.
- Take on a new hobby or learn to play an instrument.
- Enjoy spending time with loved ones.
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Daniel's Keys to Kindness 