6 Steps to Building a Healthier Relationship With Yourself

6 Steps to Building a Healthier Relationship with Yourself

We’re always busying ourselves trying to make sure our relationships with everybody else are ticking over nicely but how often do you stop and check in with your relationship with yourself?

How kind have you been to yourself lately?

Do you extend the same forgiveness to yourself as you do to those around you?

If you’re reading this thinking “Hmm, maybe I could do better” don’t fret because I’ve got 6 steps to help your relationship with yourself blossom!

• Start accepting yourself as you are.

Stop picking all your faults and wishing you were different, start appreciating things about yourself, applauding your achievements, and noticing the good you’ve done. Try to compare yourself to others less.

All of these things are gradual and will take time, allow yourself to know that this is ok, change takes time.

• Be kinder to yourself.

Would you say the unkind things to anybody else? I’m guessing the answer is no… So why say them to yourself?

Why is it ok to be so unkind to yourself?

You deserve the kindness you give to everybody else.

Whenever you say something unkind to or about yourself, try to think or say something kind instead. Try to do kind things for yourself, things that are comforting and make you feel good.

• Remember it’s not selfish to care for yourself.

You’ve probably gotten used to putting yourself last and now whenever you do try to take care of yourself, you’re racked with guilt but there is nothing selfish about taking care of yourself.

You can’t take care of the other people in your life if you’re not looking after yourself.  Try and remind yourself of this.

• Make time for the things you enjoy.

Create space in your life for the things you enjoy, if your days are busy try and carve out at least an hour for yourself each week where you do something you really enjoy, that makes you smile, feel relaxed or happy.

• Embrace your mistakes and experiences instead of judging or criticising yourself for them.

Mistakes make us human; everyone makes them. Try not to judge yourself too harshly for them. Remind yourself that everybody makes mistakes and it’s ok that this happened.

Mistakes can also be wonderful learning curves.

Thinking about experiences from your past, what did they teach you? What did you gain from them? These are reflective questions, and you might need some time to reflect on them. It might be helpful for you to do some journaling around what this brings up for you.

• Check in with how you’re feeling.

It’s ok to feel a mixture of feelings, give yourself permission to feel them and work through them. Let your tears out, allow your happiness in, express your concerns, shares your worries because when we bottle our feelings up eventually they have to come out, and this is often when we feel like we’re erupting and have no control over them.

If you would like some support with building a healthier relationship with yourself or you would like to discuss any feelings that this blog may have stirred up for you, you can get in touch with me here