Self-kindness may be interchangeable with self-love or compassion. It is treating yourself with the same kindness, words, and actions that you would use on a close friend or family member.

It’s a foreign concept. I know. I get it. We’re taught in many households, cultures, and professions to put all others above our own needs. Yet, it can be detrimental to our own well-being.

How so?

The lack of self-kindness can increase Stress, Anxiety, and other mental health issues, as well as hinder self-acceptance. It can eat away out our esteem and worth. As I tell my kids, words matter. The words we use with ourselves matter, even the internal thoughts.

It is not selfish to be kind to yourself.

To me, it looks like self forgiveness and self acceptance with the good, bad, and ugly. It means changing my inner voice to that I would use with my kids, patients, friends, or family. It is going to be more gentle. I think it also entails a moment to pause, or creating thinking space, to assess and reassess goals, needs, and the direction of life.

Allow for creativity.

Allow for crazy, impromptu decisions [ie dance parties after dinner].

Allow for times of rest and not always producing.

It can help with:

Increasing self-acceptance.

Reducing negative self talk.

Increasing awareness [self].

Increasing positive mental changes.

Hold space for yourself too.
What does self-kindness look like for you? Share in the comments.

Originally Published on https://www.theworthyphysician.com/blog

Sapna Shah-Haque Internal Medicine Physician

Dr. Sapna Shah-Haque, MD is a board certified Internal Medicine physician. She was born and raised in Kansas, and attended medical school at the University of Kansas [KU] School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at KU-Wichita as well. After experiencing burnout herself, and watching other physician colleagues burn out, it became a passion of hers to look into different aspects of burnout. While the system does need to change, as it is broken, this podcast is a way to reach physicians and possibly shed light on what is not an isolated situation.