1 – Do Something Kind For Yourself
Sharon Salzberg’s book, “The Kindness Handbook,” is a valuable resource divided into three sections that explore various aspects of kindness: The Foundation, The Entry, and The Expression. For this theme’s focus on kindness to oneself, we draw inspiration from “The Entry” section, emphasizing love and compassion for ourselves, which is at the core of this module.
Specifically, Salzberg introduces Dr. Kristin Neff’s work on self-compassion, which comprises three essential components:
- Self-Kindness: Showing warmth and self-care rather than self-criticism.
- Common Humanity: Recognizing that suffering is a shared human experience.
- Mindfulness: Maintaining a balanced approach to negative emotions.
Dr. Neff’s work and self-compassion resources are available on her website, including a self-compassion rating tool, which I highly recommend as you explore ways to be kind to yourself.
Remember that you don’t have to limit yourself to just one act of self-kindness; cultivating this as a habit is highly beneficial. This isn’t about advocating selfishness but promoting self-fullness. By taking care of yourself, you become better equipped to support and be there for others.
Next Step: Read Reflection Message #1.
Kind Living 