If you had a person in your life treating you the way you treat yourself, you would have gotten rid of them a long time ago.
― Cheri Huber, There is Nothing Wrong with You
Two weeks ago, I watched practically the entire season 1 of Outlander.
After seven hours of Netflix, I emerged from 18th century Scotland and hot men in skirts back into today’s realities. I had to deal with the workbook that needed editing, the yoga class not done, social media strategy left unplanned.
In the past, my first instinct would have been to blame myself: You’re so lazy. You didn’t get anything done. You’re letting people down.
What I did instead was to shift from scolding myself into treating myself with kindness. Now instead of my inner critic, I heard a more nurturing voice: Yes, I completely understand how hard it is to tear yourself away from Jamie Fraser. It’s okay. There is still the rest of the evening to do your work and instead of yoga, to just take a walk.
I have learned that the most important self-care practice is to speak to myself kindly, to not blame myself when things go wrong, to not put myself down.
You reflect your thoughts. If you want love, then think loving thoughts and be gentle and kind towards yourself, at your most messy, most flawed, most repellent.
Try it this month. When you find yourself putting yourself down, consciously shift your thoughts to kindness, to forgiveness, to love.
You’re awesome.
You’re doing your best.
I forgive you for not being perfect.
You’re beautiful.
You’re worth it.
P.S. This is the note I sent to my e-newsletter subscribers at the start of July. If you want to receive little notes from me at least once a month, sign up for my newsletter here.
