Lesson 2

Kindness

Imagine that you have a new friend or lover, someone who knows just what you like and who always says just the right thing. What would your friend do to delight you? What would your friend say to make you feel just wonderful?

Do those things to delight yourself. Tell yourself those things that will make you feel wonderful.

Notice how it makes you feel.

Treating yourself with kindness is one of the most positive and powerful single things you can do to change your life for the better.

The practice of kindness to others begins with the practice of kindness to yourself.

Our tendency is to think that by beating ourselves up, we can make ourselves improve. But if you think back to teachers you had in school, for whom did you do your best work? For a teacher who criticized you and made you feel bad or for a teacher who seemed to really like you and believe in you and was full of positive encouragement?  Pay attention to what works for you when you're talking to yourself.  

We all respond to kindness and encouragement, and we can each be our own best friends to provide it for ourselves.