Kindness Challenge
Kindness
Kindness – a value and virtue that parents and teachers hope children will learn as they grown and develop. It is kindness towards others, and kindness towards themselves.
“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” – Jack Kornfield
This is not necessarily an innate value; it is something that can be learned. Which is just like any other behaviour. It follows therefore that kindness can be trained through repetition and by copying. Which is usually the natural way children learn new behaviours.
What this means is that we, as in adults, have a powerful opportunity, and responsibility, to teach kindness by example. Therein lies an interesting dichotomoy. Because as adults we tend to find it difficult to be kind to ourselves. Emotional eating, procrastination, overdone personal drivers such as “be perfect” are all act of self-sabotage and far from treating oneself with kindness.
One-Day Kindness Challenge
Could you manage one whole day being kind to yourself? Many will say no. Or agree and not complete the task.
So we have a one day challenge for you.
We would like you to treat yourself like you would a child!
Instructions
Here is what you need to do.
- Go to bed at a sensible time, have a consistent bedtime routine (which does not involve screen time) and sleep for at least 7 hours.
- Say kind things and think kind thoughts to yourself and to others.
- Have patience with yourself when you are learning, or waiting for others to learn.
- Make sure you feed and water yourself properly.
- Make your wellness needs a priority.
- Give yourself positive message of self-love. If you need inspiration check out these quotes.
Easy, right? In theory, yes. In practice, less so. Read on to find out why.
Be Your Eight-Year Old Self
The age of eight is pivotal in our lives. You see, after the age of 8 we start losing creativity; we stop playing ‘pretend’ games and start maturing. We start seeing ourselves differently and start being critical about ourselves; our bodies, our appearance, our successes, our failures – everything.
After age eight we start to take everything to heart and start being hard on ourselves.
If you could look back and talk to your 8 year old self, what advice do you think they would give you? Would they tell you to take everything personally? To beat yourself up for every issue or setback? To criticise physical self and neglect your mental and emotional wellbeing?
No! No, of course not.
Your eight year old self would tell you to be happy, enjoy being you and have fun.
“It’s not your job to like me. It’s mine.” – Byron Katie
Inspiration
Don’t believe us? Please take a minute to watch this quick video and you might think differently.
Just Try
So, we challenge you to try just one day to be kind to yourself, then another.
Then be kind to yourself always ?
Need support?
We recognise that not everyone finds it easy to be kind to themselves. If you want some support in helping your on your wellness journey, please contact us.
Ruth Dive.
