Be kinder to yourself in 2017

Is it time to let go of the past?

It is never too late to change the future. Forgive yourself for old mistakes. Maybe it was a job you should have taken or slip-ups you made in a relationship. 2017 is just beginning and there is nothing stopping you from being a nicer person, starting a new career or falling in love again.  

“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”  Carl Jung

Give yourself recognition

Not everyone can become an Olympic gold medallist or the CEO of a company; when you aren’t in a position whereby your achievements are publicly announced, you might have to remind yourself of them. Make sure to celebrate your own successes and share them with the people that matter most to you. 

Do not try to be perfect

People try to be perfect in many different ways and can put a lot of pressure on themselves. Some want the perfect house or to be the perfect partner/ parent/ friend. Some obsess about their appearance. Others hate making any mistakes.  

We all make plenty of mistakes, big or small. Try not to linger on them. Instead of worrying about what you did wrong, think about what went right, or how you can do even better next time. Mistakes can be an excellent opportunity for learning. 

Perfect doesn’t really exist and striving for it is dangerous because you’ll never be satisfied. Most people now spend too much time on social media and the internet, where it’s easy to find someone who appears to be doing something better than you, seems more attractive than you or has a “better” life than you do if you look for it.  You are already good enough. 

“I'm not perfect... But I'm enough.”  Carl R. Rogers

How to have more compassion and be kinder to yourself in 2017

2017 - It’s time to focus on yourself this year.

This does not mean you have to do something you do not enjoy doing, like going on a diet or exercising for hours, because when you dread doing something, or do it only because you think you should, your initial motivation won’t last long and it’s very likely you will quit by February.

We are all guilty of trying this, there is a reason every gym class is suddenly fully booked in January….. 

When we talk about taking care of yourself it’s instead about the simple things that will make you feel like life is a little more under your control.

• Treat yourself. Why not book a spa treatment, a massage or facial? With various voucher deals available a little bit of luxury might be surprisingly affordable.
• Keep yourself well-groomed and go get your hair done. This will help lift your mood because it can boost your confidence by making you feel like you have more control over your appearance and life in general.
• Get into bed an hour earlier instead of watching that TV show you don’t even really like. We can all be guilty of a Netflix binge (or two) but the benefit of full night’s sleep outweighs cramming in those extra two episodes.
• Give yourself some time to make new and exciting (and healthier) meals every day. No need to starve yourself, just make sure the things you eat are good for your body and will give you the energy to keep going throughout the day.
• If you find it hard to motivate yourself to exercise, make it exciting by trying new activities rather than spending hours out running. There are plenty of fun ways to exercise. For example perhaps try a Zumba, aerial yoga or a trampoline workout class.