Treat Yourself Like A Friend
Welcome to day 3 of the Show Yourself Kindness challenge, powered by CeraVe.
It’s normal to be tough on ourselves sometimes. We all have inner critics. But studies show that criticizing ourselves activates our “fight-or-flight” response, which creates stress hormones in our bodies.
Think about this: What would your closest friend say to you if he or she could listen to the conversation you’re having with yourself? This friend would probably offer reassuring advice in a calm, comforting manner. This person is the perfect example of how you can treat yourself.
For example, let’s say you’re giving yourself a hard time because you skipped a workout to watch your favorite TV show. Now imagine what a compassionate friend might say if they could hear your thoughts. A good friend might put a hand on your shoulder and say, “You were feeling tired and needed some down time. That’s OK. Give yourself grace. You’ll make up for it tomorrow.”
Today, give yourself a supportive pep-talk. Be the friend your inner critic needs. Notice the negative when it pops into your head, then respond to your inner dialogue with compassion and understanding. Give yourself permission to feel what you feel, but remind yourself of the positive, too.
Want more? Try this exercise from self-compassion expert Kristin Neff, PhD.
Did you find this tip helpful? How did the exercise go? Share with us in our discussion in the challenge update section here or on Facebook.
Missed day 2? Catch up here. Join us on day 4.
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