Be Kind to Yourself in Recovery!

Being kind to yourself is a skill you can learn and practice. Here are some suggestions on ways to start being kind to yourself.

Carve out ‘me-time’-Taking time to unplug from your computer, the continuous stream of social media updates, overflowing email inbox, is a great way to recharge the mind, body and soul. So is yoga and meditation.

Acknowledge your feelings and emotions - Being kind to yourself means allowing yourself to feel whatever it is you are feeling at that moment. Instead of judging your emotions or trying to numb them, you give yourself permission to experience them, without judging yourself.

Take care of yourself-One of the best ways to show yourself kindness is to take good care of yourself. This includes nourishing yourself with enough food and taking care of your body

Give yourself recognition-When was the last time you acknowledged and appreciated yourself?  Many people find it easier to acknowledge the strengths and achievements of others than to acknowledge their own.

Accept and appreciate yourself-Self-acceptance means that you stop trying to change yourself into the person you’re not and at the same time be open to discovering the real and beautiful person that you are. We all have strengths and weaknesses, we all make silly mistakes and we all fail every now and then.

Tell yourself “I am good enough” -At some point, we are all guilty of some negative self-talk or labeling ourselves as either good or bad, which is often the result of feelings of unworthiness or shame. It can be helpful to put a more positive perspective on things and replace negative thoughts.

Can you think of other ways to be kind to yourself? Call the show!