5 Tips on How to Be Kind to Yourself

5 Tips on How to Be Kind to Yourself

by
Susan Ross
Suspended Coffees Volunteer

Enjoy the moment. If you’re walking along a beach on a beautiful sunny day and thinking about how much you hate your job, you’re missing the pleasure of the sun against your skin, the feel of the sand between your toes, and the soothing sound of the waves.

Go with the flow. Many years ago I was traveling around Europe. I’d carefully planned out the cities/countries that my friend and I would visit. Shortly into our trip there was a train strike in one of the countries we were going to visit. We could have let that ruin our trip but we just went to a different country instead. My careful planning had gone down the tubes, but we still had a great time.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. A week from now you won’t remember that someone “stole” your parking spot at Walmart, your dog had an accident on the rug, your kid spilled milk on your assignment, or your husband ate your last chocolate Easter bunny. (Hmmm, that last one may not be a great example.)

Accept the things you can’t change and change the things you can. You think you’re too short. Well, aside from wearing high heels there’s not much you can do about that. Let it go. You think you’re overweight. If your doctor agrees and you are not striving for the unrealistic body proportions promoted by media, choose healthy foods and exercise and meet your goal.

Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses. Don’t get talked into a more lavish lifestyle than you can afford without breaking the budget. The huge pressure by the media to go bigger and better and encouraging families to going into debt is a detriment to your happiness. As long as you live in a comfortable home, have money to pay the bills, have food on the table, and can buy what you REALLY NEED, consider yourself blessed.