Showing Yourself Grace
We’ve all been there – caught in a cycle of negative self-talk. Maybe we’re feeling stressed about an upcoming deadline at work, or disappointed that we didn’t make it to the gym as often as we wanted to this week. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to remember that the way we talk to ourselves can have a huge impact on our overall well-being. Here are six tips on how to show yourself more grace and embrace self-compassion:
On This Page
Acknowledge Your Feelings
The first step is acknowledging how you’re feeling in the moment. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or even sad from time to time. By accepting these feelings, you can move through them instead of getting stuck in a negative mindset.
Be Mindful Of Your Words
One way to start practicing grace and self-compassion is by monitoring your self-talk. Pay attention to the words you use when talking about yourself – are they kind and encouraging or harsh and critical? If you catch yourself slipping into negative self-talk, try reframing your thoughts in a more positive light. For example, instead of thinking, “I’m such an idiot for forgetting my phone at home,” try telling yourself, “It’s okay; everyone forgets things from time to time.”
The words we use matter – so let’s make sure we’re using ones that will lift us up instead of tearing us down.
Challenge Your Thoughts
That little voice in your head that tells you that you’re not good enough, smart enough, or thin enough is not your friend. Shut it down! Talk back to that voice with positive affirmations. Tell yourself that you are beautiful, smart, and capable. It may feel silly at first, but eventually, those positive affirmations will become your new normal way of thinking about yourself.
Practice Gratitude
Another way to talk kindly to yourself is to practice gratitude. It’s easy to focus on what’s wrong in our lives and ignore all the good stuff. But taking a few moments each day to think about what you’re grateful for can change your entire outlook on life—and yourself! Make a list of things you’re grateful for each day and refer back to it when you’re feeling down about yourself. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your mood will improve when you focus on all the good in your life.
Focus on Your Positive Qualities
In addition to practicing gratitude, it’s also important to focus on your positive qualities—both personality traits and physical characteristics. We are often our own worst critic when it comes to our appearance, so it’s important to take a step back and appreciate our own unique beauty. Make a list of things you like about yourself—both inside and out—and refer to it when you need a confidence boost.
Comparison is the Thief of Joy
Finally, remember that comparison is the thief of joy. It’s easy to look at other people and think they have it all together while we’re struggling just to keep our heads above water. But the truth is, everyone is struggling in some way — we just don’t always see them because people tend to put their best foot forward on social media and in person. So next time you find yourself comparing yourself unfavorably to someone else, remind yourself that you don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes in their life. Focus on your own journey and be proud of how far you’ve come!
Bottom Line
Remember, you deserve to be your own best friend! Treat yourself with kindness, compassion, grace, and understanding, and watch as your life transforms for the better.
Mistakes are inevitable. Failures are necessary. Both are part of our personal growth and self-discovery. They teach us life lessons that make us stronger, wiser, and more in tune with our inner selves. They position us to appreciate the successes in our lives; and, uncover our unique superpowers.
You are deserving of the same kindness, understanding, forgiveness, and grace you would show others in those disappointing moments. You are worthy of compassion and respect – so start giving it to yourself today!
This Month’s Quote
This month’s quote challenges us to find ways to: show ourselves grace in times of our own failures and mistakes; change the station when our minds queue up our greatest failures soundtrack by changing our perspective; learn from and celebrate every courageous moment where we try, fail, learn, and try all over again. Let’s journal about it…
This Month’s Journal Prompt
Self-Reflect and Grow
It’s time to self-reflect! Grab your favorite Disrupted Unicorn Journal Notebook and pen, get comfy, take a few deep breaths, and reflect on this month’s journal prompt:
For the next 5 – 15 minutes, write down your thoughts to these questions:
- Re-read this month’s quote.
- Write about a recent failure you experienced or mistake you made.
- What were three of the songs on your failure soundtrack?
- When you reflect on the failure or mistake, what positive lessons and insights about yourself do you find? How are you or your life better for having failed or made the mistake?
Level up (optional):
- Write a letter to yourself celebrating the positive lessons and insights you’ve learned from the failure or mistake.
Journal writing is a personal and often deeply emotional activity. If you feel uncomfortable or distressed about a particular prompt we post, please feel free to skip it and journal about whatever is on your mind or heart.
