Ever notice how hard it is to be kind to yourself?  It is so much easier to be kind and compassionate towards others. However, showing that same kindness and compassion towards yourself is so much more difficult. 

I am a recovering people pleaser and perfectionist. From a young age, I thought that if I could take care of everyone else’s needs then I would be guaranteed to be loved and accepted. 

That idea and attitude left me exhausted, stressed, and overwhelmed. I never found the acceptance and love I was looking for from other people because the person it needed to come from was me. 

I recently read this quote by Christopher Germer, “A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life.” 

It was such a good reminder that all change starts small; with moments. 

Often, we get so caught up with the end goal that we forget about all the steps that lead us there. Instead of focusing on that first, small step, we get overwhelmed by the big picture and stay stuck where we are. 

For me, that can mean something as simple as not telling myself I’m lazy if I sit down and watch TV or read a book. Just by changing how I look at the situation can help keep my day on a positive note rather than spiraling into something tragic. 

Ready to get unstuck? Your action step: what is the smallest first step you can take to be a little kinder to yourself today? Let me know by replying here.