Love yourself—and others—no matter what! Easier said than done, right? This skill is a foundational part of mindfulness and well-being. Only when we’re able to achieve this level of understanding, love and freedom from judgment for ourselves and others can we truly reach total well-being. This can help improve our physical and mental health as well as connections to one another. Read on to learn more!
Feel the love and reciprocate it! Surround yourself with people who support you and in turn give them the same support back. By receiving and giving support, encouragement and admiration from others, you’re more likely to feel better about yourself and help others feel good, too.
Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Act with empathy, understanding and compassion. Make this a habit before passing judgment or jumping to conclusions.
Truly listen to others and demonstrate understanding during conversations. Show you are listening by asking open-ended questions, providing thoughtful responses, and making strong eye contact.
Dedicate time each month to do important, meaningful activities (while socially distant or virtually!) with friends, family and coworkers. If you don’t consciously plan these activities, your schedule can easily fill up with other things like chores, housework and other responsibilities. Click here and here for ideas!
Perform small random acts of kindness every day. It can make you feel good to do something nice for someone else. And it can make the recipient of your kindness feel cared for and appreciated, and help lift their spirits. You can find ideas in our previous posts below:
- Be kind and improve your health!
- How to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Gift someone with kindness this season
Remember to give yourself the same love and respect you share with others!
- Participate in activities to benefit YOUR physical, mental and emotional well-being so you can put your best self forward and address any stress you may be feeling.
- Keep an inventory of all of the things you love about yourself.
- Pat yourself on the back. Compliment yourself each time you do something well, achieve something or feel particularly good about an action you took.
- Be inclusive of everyone. If you’re in a social situation such as a virtual hangout, on a meeting with your team at work, or supervising your child’s playdate with friends, attempt to engage someone who may seem shy or apprehensive to participate.
- Avoid comparing yourself to others. Focus on yourself, what you’ve accomplished and what you plan to do. Click here for tips to help.
Practicing loving kindness takes time, but as with any skill, the more you practice, the easier it will become!
