Rethink Being Nice To Yourself

Be nice to yourself, even when other people aren't. 

People don't want to hear this. It's discouraging. We want, need, expect our parents, significant others, co-workers to acknowledge us and tell us how great we are. It's frustrating when we don't get it. 

Fortunately, this is also entirely empowering. 

Being nice to yourself means you get to focus on you. This eliminates the burden of worrying about others. If you aren't getting juice from a turnip, then stop squeezing. 

However you want to phrase it, focusing on yourself is essential to good mental health. 

1. It's the serenity prayer: accept what you can't change (acknowledgement from others), the courage to change the stuff you can (positive self talk), and the wisdom to know the difference.

2. Practitioners of mindfulness have spent centuries encouraging us to turn inward, to focus on ourselves. Why? Because happiness doesn't come from spending 10 minutes a day thinking about the jerks who aren't paying attention to how amazing you are.

3. Me Time. 

4. You want wonky technical jargon? It's internal versus external locus of control. 

5. Confidence is key.

There is nothing in your DNA that prohibits you from being your own cheerleader. You choose to focus on what others don't give you instead of focusing on what you can give yourself.  

You choose to focus on what others don't give you instead of focusing on what you can give yourself.

Here's the best part. Unlike the excessive material dependence of self care, being nice to yourself doesn't cost a penny and doesn't require anything that will eventually collect dust in your basement. 

Be nice to yourself, even when other people aren't. 

Especially when other people aren't. 

For information on individual counseling, contact me at bradleyjabel@gmail.com