Daily Motivation--Be Kind to Yourself for a Change


"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these." --George Washington Carver

The word kindness is made up of two syllables-KIND and NESS. KIND means forgiving, warm-hearted, friendly, of a sympathetic or helpful nature, gentle, merciful, and tender. NESS is a suffix that means a state, condition, quality or degree. When the two syllables are combined they result in the following definition: KINDNESS: The quality or state of being warm-hearted, considerate, humane and sympathetic.

Numerous scientific studies have shown that being kind results in significant physical, mental and emotional health benefits:

Wouldn't you like to reap these physical, mental and emotional benefits? If so, be kind to yourself!

How to Be Kind to Yourself

A very dear friend of mine is fond of saying, "A change is as good as a rest." She does little things to be kind to herself like changing her shoes after a long day at work, putting on a pair of slippers or walking shoes and then starting the next activity with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Imagine my surprise when I decided to give this piece of home-grown wisdom a try. She was right! I began to change my shoes or clothing-- particularly after very intense or stressful activities--and became energized and renewed too!

Doing things differently for a change is as good as a rest. So here are 25 ways you can be kind to yourself, make small changes in your life, and rest in the process:

  • Celebrate your accomplishments and any small successes you achieve this week. Buy a birthday cake, light the candles and have a solo party, even if it's not your birthday.

  • Don't overly dwell on your failure moments. We all have them. They make us grow stronger. Learn from them to increase your opportunities for success in the future.

  • Send yourself some flowers, a card, or buy a small inexpensive gift. Don't forget to wrap the gift. When you unwrap it, express your delight and pleasure vocally as you savor the moment.

  • Each week, plan a special meal. Set the table with your fine linens, good china, stemware and utensils (instead of paper plates, cups, napkins and plastic forks).

  • Take a REAL vacation-you know, the old fashion kind where cell phones, emails, wireless connections, etc. are banned!

  • Pop some popcorn, relax in your favorite chair with your feet up, and watch your favorite TV show or DVD.

  • Take a long relaxing walk. Reflect on the scenery and environment around you. Notice the little things like a blade of grass or the shape of a leaf.

  • Carve out at least 10-15 minutes each day to spend on yourself-any way you choose. Put it on your calendar to ensure that it gets done.

  • Make a cup of herbal or green tea and sit quietly thinking about the fun things you would like to do. Put these ideas on paper and take action.

  • Bring a CD player to work and softly play classical music in the background while you work on reports, presentations or read the volumes of paperwork you receive each day.

  • Get plenty of sleep (whatever amount is appropriate for you).

  • Take a bicycle ride through a field or park.

  • Go to the spa for a manicure, pedicure, or massage.

  • Read for fun-a novel, poetry, short story. Avoid business books or academic treatises.

  • Laugh a lot-especially if you have a hard time doing so. See the good humor in nature-two squirrels fighting over an acorn, a duck as it waddles to a pond, etc.

  • Start writing in a personal journal. Record as many positive thoughts, actions-whatsoever is lovely about you.

  • Re-start your hobbies. Pull out old unfinished projects or just simply start a new one.

  • Get a checkup and physical exam. Implement whatever strategies are needed to promote good health. Take vitamins and other supplements to keep your energy at its most productive level.

  • Get a new haircut or style.

  • Organize your closet or drawers. Tackle a sock or lingerie drawer; hold a tag sale, or donate your materials, furniture, and clothes that are in good condition.

  • Take a different route to work. Take yourself off auto-pilot and watch the cars and people around you.

  • Build a new relationship with a co-worker, acquaintance or someone who shares your interests.

  • Go all out to do something kind and compassionate for yourself.

  • Respect yourself. Refuse to berate, put-down or belittle yourself.

  • Forgive yourself. Accept the fact that you are not perfect. Choose to move forward instead of remaining stuck in the past or replaying a mistake you made over and over again in your mind.

    • Have some fun with this. There are many more things you can do to be kind to yourself. Make your own list and when you complete every item on it, start a new one.

    The point is that you must plan to do something kind for yourself, and then stick to that plan. Our lives are much too busy these days to let it fall to chance or when you get around to it. You never will, you know. In any event, enjoy the items on this list and begin to experience better health and increased vitality. Being kind to yourself will ultimately result in your being kind to others.

    Althea DeBrule, entrepreneur and seasoned human resources executive, has focused for more than 30 years on helping people achieve their career goals. Creator of The Extreme-Career-Makeover? and a founding partner of RADSGroup Organizational Consultants, she is recognized for her bottom line and practical application of career development and management strategies in a way that penetrates hearts and compels action. She speaks and teaches with inspired talent, humor and contagious zeal at management conferences and leadership retreats nationwide, and has been featured in CFO Magazine, Strategy@Work, Human Resource Executive Magazine. Althea is the author of Bosses & Orchards, a compelling and candid book about how to make your work relationship with your boss succeed. To discover how you can take your career to a new level, visit http://www.extreme-career-makeover.com/

    MORE RESOURCES:
    RELATED ARTICLES
    Getting Out of the Zone!
    We've probably all heard the famous movie quip, "why don't you wait here while I slip into something a little more comfortable". It's a comment to make most of our ears (particularly male ones!) stand up on end with the anticipation that the film has actually taken a turn for the better.
    A Few Simple Things You Must Do If You Want To Be Wealthy
    Making money is easy when you move to cause rather than living out effects.Let me draw a simple analogy to clarify my point.
    Motivation To Change, Why Is It So Hard?
    We encounter constant changes throughout our life; it could be educational, health, relationships or financial, and of course with oneself. Maintaining or increasing one's sense of self-worth and happiness are strong incentives for these changes.
    Dont Just Hope - Decide!
    As the story goes, a single college-age guy went to the airport one day to pick up a friend. As he waited for his friend to come off the plane, he noticed a man hurrying through the crowd, calling to the woman and two children standing next to him.
    The Day Your Life Will Change for Good!
    Many people long for a better life. In fact, I think it is innate to humans to desire a better life.
    ABCs for High Achievers
    A im for what you want by focusing clearly on priorities.B elieve in yourself and your goals, and then begin to strive for them.
    Motivation and Change: Creating Your Daily Success Program
    I get some of my best ideas for my column from my clients.One idea that really seems to work for one of my clients is having a daily success program.
    The 31 Absolute Best Resources for Self Improvement
    Every week, I hear from people with the same Self Improvement questions: Where should I go for help? What should I do? Who should I listen to?This article is designed to help you explore all of the people, places and things available to help you improve your life starting today.Right off the bat, I want to share with you some very good news: There are literally DOZENS of places to go and people to talk to when it comes to Self Improvement.
    How To Overcome Procrastination Quickly And Easily
    Maybe it is time to discover a new way to overcome procrastination and get motivated.When a deadline looms you need a quick and easy way to start making some progress and beat procrastination.
    Ignite Your Life!
    Where have you come from this past year? What have you accomplished? Don't like the answers? Wish you had better ones, more fulfilling ones? You can - just one year from now!You have within yourself the power to decide that when someone asks you just one year from now, "What did you accomplish in the last year?" you will respond, "Let me tell you - I was on fire!"You aren't getting any younger, and neither am I. If nothing changes, next year you will be one year older and still stuck in the rut wondering when you will achieve your dreams.
    Making Excuses
    I edited and re-edited my article. I had to make sure it was just so.
    Correct Your Mindset and Expel The Fear
    The main problem with many of us is we loose our direction in life. We have great aspirations upon leaving school or college but then just loose direction or do not know how to achieve our dreams.
    Going with the Flow
    This whole idea of change is founded on a single principle: CHANGE IS ALL IN YOUR MIND.First comes a desire or need to change.
    What Motivates You - Desire or Fear?
    The energy of desire is a powerful motivator and creative force. Yet we must state our desires clearly with the rewards of success in mind.
    What Makes a Champion?
    Imagine for a moment that you are a champion. You are the best in your town .
    Entrepreneurs: Take Action Over Inspiration Every Time!
    "Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory!" General George S. PattonWhen choosing a senior quote, this one jumped right at me.
    Motivation By An Audience
    Sooner or later, if you keep working hard in a focused way on a skill or project, you will have an audience even if it is an audience of one.People are naturally attracted to the hardworking, skilled person and will want to watch or learn.
    How To Deal With Denial
    Denial is a coping mechanism commonly used when something happens that we really don't want to see. Doing this is actually quite natural.
    Ready, Set, Action!
    James 2: 17?faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
    Do Yourself A Favor--Forgive
    "Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." BuddhaI can't count high enough to number the people in my clinical office and in my seminars who have argued.