Kindness Starts From Within

Kindness Starts From Within

This is the kind of stuff that gets hardly discussed in threads because through the ages, we [wrongly] thought that this is not a talking point ?!@#$%  But hey, we are grossly wrong because basic logic dictates that we can 'walk the talk' of being KIND TO OTHERS only if Kindness Starts From Within.  Simply put, this is telling us that we need to be that kind to ourselves, that being kind INSIDE OUT unconditionally.

Why KINDLY ?  Yesirrrrrrs, it is regrettable that [save for the exceptional few who are dyed-in-the-wool as lazy as the tortoise] many of us have hardly been kind kind enough to our very own self.  Frankly, we're tough with ourselves.  We demand much from ourselves, sometimes more than what we are capable of.  And don't get me wrong because that's very laudable BUT the bigger question, should we just carry on with that SELF-TOUGHIE mindset from within us ?  No way, Jose.  Being that tough to ourselves does NOT guarantee that we could remain that kind enough to others.  WHAT IF our health skids and goes down the drain ?  Who can get kinder?

Oh, we [frequently] wrongly assume that criticism will motivate us to do better.  We tend to be more perfectionist than we should be.  When we feel anxious or frustrated, we talk to ourselves more harshly than what we'd find acceptable by anyone else.  Instead of talking to ourselves with SELF-COMPASSION, we raise out standards for our behavior as a defense against our feelings of DOUBT, ANXIETY or FRUSTRATION.

SELF-COMPASSION improves people's participations in groups and is associated with a more adaptive attitude to failure.  People who are SELF-COMPASSIONATE recover better from psychological knocks like relationship breakups and career setbacks.  One way to manifest SELF-COMPASSION is through SELF-TALK.

So what's COMPASSIONATE SELF-TALK ?  It's taking a balanced approach to our negative emotions that neither suppresses or exaggerates them and expecting yourself to make the best decision you can in the situation you're in.  Sometimes, it is an irreverent challenge of beliefs. Example, I could have written hundreds of blogs and I have enough readership.  Yet I continue to doubt my capabilities.  Why can't we all rekindle that KINDNESS FROM WITHIN US ❗❗❗