Here Is Why There Is No End to Learning Curve of How to Be Kind to Ourselves

And there’s no peak either; it can only go up and gain you experience points

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

We, humans, are paradoxical beings. We talk about beneficial practices and how to keep them up, but we also hope that a one-time pill or a switch will make those habits automatic.

But it doesn’t. Even to such a fundamental practice as being kind to ourselves. It might be relatively new to appreciate the importance of being kind to ourselves, but many of us have heard the following statement and experienced it to be true:

Kindness to others starts with being kind to ourselves.

And even if we know this to be true, we discover again and again unkind thoughts toward others and ourselves running through our minds. How could that be? Doesn’t a decision being kind both to others and ourselves waves a start flag for this right to be kind? Why don’t we manage to be kind continually, and how can we be?

Here is why and how:

• Being unkind, demanding, and impatient toward others and ourselves is automatic.
• Being kind can only be intentional and deliberate.

Here is why.