Six ways to be kinder to yourself in 2020

The world can definitely be a cold and mean place these days. It’s actually overwhelming to hear constant bad news being reported every day about all the terrible things that happen all over the world. 

Although a lot of things are out of our control, there’s still a lot that we can do to be the ‘peace’ in the chaos. One essential step for a better world is by being kinder to yourself. When you treat yourself with compassion, your outlook on life also changes so everyone wins. Below are ways you can start being kinder to yourself in 2020.

In a utopia-like world, everything would be perfect. Things would run smoothly and no one would complain about anything. Still, life would lose its meaning if everything was like that. There is a reason why mistakes exist because life is all about learning and making progress. Don’t be too hard on yourself and leave room for learning. At the end of the day, we all make mistakes. How you deal with them will determine the repercussions.

Make it a habit to say, ‘I love me.’ Tell yourself every day that you appreciate your progress and that you are enough. Making those affirmations about yourself really boosts your self-confidence and keeps you motivated. Remember that it’s only you who can fill that inner void of negativity that you might be struggling with. So, when you start telling yourself, ‘I love me,’ your actions and your attitude about yourself start to change.

We all love to be in the company of our good friends and family. It’s fun when you get to spend time with the people you love, especially those you haven’t seen in a long time. However, having some quiet moments of self-reflection is just as important. Doing this gives you time to assess your life so that you make positive changes if you need to. Socializing on a constant basis can actually be exhausting, so these moments will help you centre yourself. Once you do that, you’re in a better position to be present for your loved ones.

Being kind to yourself also calls for you to accept your limitations. This life can pressure you to feel like you have to be all-rounded and you may believe that you can handle everything at once. It might be that you’re trying to be there for everyone, or that you’re balancing too many careers at a go. When you’re constantly dividing yourself, you end up giving less than you normally would. Eventually, that type of situation drains you emotionally and leaves you feeling stressed. It’s important to relieve yourself from the pressure and focus on what you’re able to do.

It’s often assumed that all negative emotions are bad. People don’t realize that those emotions have a purpose and can actually motivate you to do better. If, for example, you’re constantly feeling sad around your group of friends, that emotion tells you that something is off. Again, you could be feeling severely depressed every day at your workplace, which indicates that it’s time for a change. Embracing these negative feelings makes you be more self-aware, which empowers you as well. Now that you know this, don’t be too quick to dismiss those negative emotions whenever they come up.

It’s not always a good idea to put on a strong and independent façade all the time. Being responsible and self-reliant has its benefits, but too much of it can wear you down. Put your ego aside and just ask for help when you need it. Trust that people around you care about you and would be willing to listen if you’re struggling with something. If necessary, seek the services of a professional counsellor.