THE world can be a cruel place; people can be, too. But ultimately, each one of us has the choice to make the world less cruel and to breed kindness and positivity instead of hatred and cynicism. In observance of World Kindness Day, wouldn’t it be the perfect occasion to talk about the simple yet powerful act of being kind? But before we can be kind to others, it is important that we are kind to ourselves first. We cannot give something we do not have.
Here are 10 ways we can give ourselves the appreciation we deserve. Soon enough, we’ll be spreading the positivity all around.
Stop comparing yourself to other people
“Why can’t I be as smart as her?” “Why is he so talented?” Stop dwelling on what you can’t do or don’t have, and start focusing on what you can do and what you have.
Treat yourself
Indulge in a fancy meal once in a while. Buy yourself a cute new top or go on a trip to a new city with your friends. There’s no harm in a little splurge from time to time, right?
Surround yourself with the right people
Aside from your own family, choose friends and company who know how to cheer you up when you’re down but who can also be brutally honest with you when necessary.
Your gap tooth, freckles, big eyes—embrace them
With that said: If you can’t accept them, work toward changing them if you can. It’s not healthy to just whine about something constantly and not do anything about it. Want to be more fit? Go on a sustainable diet and get some exercise. Want to have better skin? See a dermatologist and find the right products. At the end of the day, you decide what makes you feel good about yourself.
Spend some quality “me” time
While having a good support system around is important, it’s also equally necessary to have some alone time. This is so that you can be able to be at peace with your own thoughts.
Accept your physical “flaws”
In this day and age, it’s so easy to compare ourselves to the faces and bodies we see online and can’t help but feel a little insecure with our flaws. Scratch that; stop calling them “flaws.”
Do what you love
This can be as simple as an everyday hobby or a life-changing full-time career. Whatever it is—pottery or making clothes—do what makes you feel good. If you think you can make a living out of it, go for it! Do things that make you want to get up every morning.
Take care of yourself
Eating on time, getting enough sleep, exercising—these are the seemingly mundane yet essential things we tend to overlook on a daily basis and we don’t really see how our bad habits affect our overall well-being.
Stop seeking validation from others
How you see yourself shouldn’t depend on how others see you. Your perception of yourself has to come from the inside out, and not the other way around. You need to have pride in yourself first before others can.
Be proud of your successes, big or small
Maybe you got an A on a quiz or your boss commended you for a job well done on the presentation. Give yourself a pat on the back for both the minor and major achievements you’ve done. Positive affirmation goes a long way.