Reduce Anxiety with Self-Kindness

Kristin Neff, associate professor at the University of Texas in the department of educational psychology,  is an intricate part of the Self-Kindness (A.K.A Self-Compassion) movement. Professor Neff, formulated a compassion scale to help us determine how "individuals display self-kindness against self-judgment, common humanity versus isolation, and mindfulness versus over-identification."

New research has determined that self-compassion has numerous positive effects on our wellbeing. According to Psychology Today, self-compassion can give you "greater life satisfaction, increase emotional intelligence, interconnectedness with others, wisdom, curiosity, happiness, and optimism. Self-compassion is also associated with less self-criticism, depression, anxiety, fear of failure, and perfectionism."

Sounds like a win-win! So, if you show yourself kindness, then you are more likely to show it to others!

We challenge you to do these three acts of kindness for yourself this week:

1. Create a gratitude journal and write a list of 10 things that made you smile this week.
2. Get outside and take a walk in nature.
3. Take time to reminisce, get out an old picture album, or browse through old photos on your phone.
   
   

Report back and tell us how it felt to be kind to others. Comment on our blog or social media using the #ichoose2bekind

Until next time... be thoughtful, be present, be kind.