Kind Minds Therapy<\/a>\u00a0in New York City, says that validating your own feelings is key to self-love. \u201cRemember, strong emotions don\u2019t last forever, even though it might not always feel that way. Many people think that by making space for discomfort, they may get ‘stuck’ in those feelings. Interestingly, research shows the exact opposite. It takes practice to sit with your feelings, so be patient if this is a new approach for you. If you allow it, you\u2019ll be amazed at what could happen.\u201d<\/p>\nChallenge your fears<\/b>
\nUncertainty can cause feelings of stress, anxiety, and fear. Jessica Marie Ortiz, a licensed clinical social worker, says that fleshing out your worries can go a long way when working to show yourself more compassion. \u201cMake two columns on a piece of paper and write out your fears,\u201d she suggests. \u201cNo matter how big or little your worries are, writing them down can make it easier to address your fears. Then, in the other column, write down an argument for each one. For example, if you\u2019re worried something bad may happen, write down how unlikely that is to actually be true. If you\u2019re scared you aren\u2019t good enough, challenge that thought by writing down something like, \u2018I\u2019m doing my best\u2019 or \u2018I\u2019m good enough for me.\u2019 Negative thoughts may pop up at first, but as you challenge them, your confidence will grow.”<\/p>\n
Get back to gratitude<\/b>
\nIn addition to challenging your fears, Ortiz also says that practicing gratitude can help you find appreciation in small joys or mini moments. \u201cEach day, list five things you appreciate. This will give you perspective, help you reflect on your successes, and feel more positively about yourself,\u201d she promises.<\/p>\n
Give yourself grace<\/b>
\nIt\u2019s easy to judge yourself for emotions you\u2019d rather not be feeling, whether you\u2019re tired, sad, angry, or anxious. But rather than beat yourself up, give yourself some grace. \u201cAsk yourself, ‘How can I treat myself kindly at this moment’?\u201d Saba Harouni, LMFT, suggests. \u201cIf you need to be soothed, it\u2019s OK to soothe yourself. That may mean taking time for a shower, listening to some music, or drinking some hot tea. Remember, what’s soothing to you may not be soothing to the next person \u2014 what I get from a hot cup of tea may be what you get from a jog or listening to some rock music!”<\/p>\n
Practice positive self-talk<\/b>
\n\u201cPay attention to how you speak to yourself,\u201d Harouni says. \u201cWould you speak to someone else that way? If you\u2019re talking to yourself in a way that would be unacceptable, rude, or mean, it\u2019s time to make a change. Talk to yourself like you would a close friend.”<\/p>\n
Take action<\/b>
\nShowing yourself more compassion may mean saying \u201cno\u201d to things you aren\u2019t up for, and spending more time on the things that energize you. Feeling low or burnt out? Life coach\u00a0Dana Humprey<\/a>\u00a0suggests leaning into the things you love to rediscover your sense of self. “We often lose our sense of identity while caring for others or just dealing with the normal hustle and bustle of life,\u201d she notes. “It\u2019s so important to take action to do the things that make you feel alive. Do you enjoy painting? Bike riding? Yoga? Reading a book? It\u2019s up to you to make those joys come to light. Always remember, actions speak louder than words.”<\/p>\nxx, The FabFitFun Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":"Whether you\u2019re filling your own cup before serving others or securing your own air mask ...","author":7535368,"featured_media":156769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4,5],"tags":[],"thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/11162225\/compassion.jpg","thumbnail_url_middle_card":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/11162225\/compassion-386x200.jpg","formated_date":"August 12, 2020","category_name":"Wellness","category_icon":"https:\/\/d3vodd1ws13xud.cloudfront.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/10113835\/health-2.svg","author_name":"Krista Gray","trending":false,"sponsored":false,"random_color":"#b6a0e5","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156642"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7535368"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156642"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156642\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/156769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}