This morning, on the way out the doors, I lost my keys. I was holding them when I put my jacket on, but 30 seconds later they were… gone. As I frantically searched my messy kitchen counter and raced around the house, I said to myself: “Ugh. Come on, Emily. Get it together. Why can’t you do the simplest thing right?”
We’ve all been under a lot of pressure lately, and since we’re all human beings, we’ve all messed some things up. In stressful moments, it’s easy to beat ourselves up. Beat ourselves up in a way we’d never beat up a friend.
Here’s an easy way to be a friend to yourself. It’s called a self-compassion break. It seems kind of cheesy at first, but it really works. I promise, because I do it pretty much every day. Give it a shot next time you’re in a rough patch.
Four easy steps.
- Stop. Be still. Take a deep breath. I like to close my eyes and put my hands over my own heart.
- Acknowledge that life is hard right now. You can notice that, and not brush it off. I like to inwardly say to myself, “Ouch. This hurts.”
- Remember you’re not alone. Suffering is part of being human. Say to yourself, “Everyone feels this way sometimes” or “This happens to everyone.”
- Then, offer yourself a word of kindness. The kind you’d give a friend. “You’re doing the best you can.” “You’re great, just the way you are.” “You’ve got this.”
It takes 2 minutes, and it really helps.
Plus, it’s how God sees you. You are amazing, beautiful, and loved, just as you are. You’re human – not infinitely powerful or perfect – and that’s okay. Because God is.
Be kind to yourself today.
Recent Comments