Growing up we're frequently told to treat everyone with respect, treat others how you want to be treated, etc...but are we ever told to take a quick inventory of how we’re treating ourselves? Are you kind to yourself?
Self–kindness is something that we both struggle with. Even though this is one of the pillars here at Darling Renegade, it’s not something we've mastered. We absolutely consider ourselves to be “kind” people. We are always willing to lend a helping hand, give a shoulder to cry on or a friendly smile. But most of the time, we DO NOT treat ourselves that way and our inner voices can be mean girls.
Is this you, too? If so, join us on this journey and we can learn more about self-kindness together!
For this first post we have explored five reasons why self-kindness is so important. We'll dig deeper into each reason later, but for now let’s learn why we need to be kind to ourselves.
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Our mental and emotional well-being depend on it!
Self-kindness builds a strong foundation for resiliency, the ability to overcome feelings of guilt, (we're talking to you, mom guilt!) stress reduction, and overall enhancement of your emotional state. Have you ever been in a terrible mood, and then stood in front of mirror and said some kind words to yourself? We're guessing you felt better immediately, or at the very least jump started some good vibes! The way we speak to ourselves has a massive impact on our well-being, so increasing the amount of kind words we say to ourselves will positively impact our mental and emotional state. Such good news!
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Increased Productivity!
While you may think that self-compassion can lead to complacency, studies have shown that it can actually help you set and achieve realistic goals. This better equips you to face challenges and setbacks (hello resiliency!), thus promoting a productive and positive mindset. Which, in our humble opinion, is necessary for productivity! So, there ya go!
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Improved Relationships!
It makes a lot of sense that if we have a positive relationship with ourselves, we can create and maintain healthy and positive relationships with others. This is especially important when deciding how we want the relationships with our partners and children to be. We have a responsibility to show them genuine and authentic kindness that they can truly feel and know is true!
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Promotes Physical Health
Physical health is an essential aspect of self-kindness. Parents often prioritize our kiddos’ well-being over our own, neglecting self-care. Regular exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate rest are key to overall health, higher energy levels, and the ability to cope with the demands of life.
Bonus: If you’re feeling like there’s no time, include our kids/family in most self-care activities! Though we do suggest scheduling in some “me-time”, too!
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Makes us Positive Role Models for our Children
It’s no secret that children learn by example, and a mama who practices self-kindness will naturally teach her children to do the same! Demonstrating how to be kind to ourselves will only set our kids up for success! They will learn how to foster a sense of self-worth at a young age, and that my friends is why we started Darling Renegade!