“Happy me, happy life!”

In our fast-paced lives, finding and enjoying our own happiness, can feel like a daunting task, and most often shoved to the backburner. However, by mindfully being kind to ourselves and making conscious changes to our daily habits, we can cultivate a more fulfilling and joyful life. 

Self-kindness 

Self-kindness means treating ourselves with dearness and affection when we struggle, disappoint ourselves and others, and do not achieve what we set out to do. However, most of us do the opposite: we criticise ourselves harshly and often set ourselves up for further failure. To be kind to ourselves involves: 

• Actively replacing self-critical thoughts with supportive and encouraging ones. 

• Incorporating behaviours that promote our own well-being into our daily routines. These include taking breaks when we need them and practicing self-care. 

Mindfulness 

Being kind to ourselves is a foreign concept to many of us. Incorporating mindfulness into our daily routines can enhance our overall well-being and help us to practise self-kindness. 

Mindfulness is when we are present in the moment and focused on what we currently experience. It helps us become more aware of our thoughts and feelings, allowing us to respond to them more effectively.  

What to do for a happier life 

• STOP striving for perfectionism. Perfectionism can be paralysing and prevents us from completing even simple tasks or enjoying our achievements. Letting go of trying to be perfect, will lead to increased productivity, reduced stress and anxiety, and being more satisfied with our lives, our work, and our achievements. 

• CONTINUE pursuing personal and professional development. Learning new skills and achieving realistic goals can provide a sense of accomplishment and purpose. 

• START celebrating small achievements and personal victories. This will activate the brain’s reward system and release the feel-good hormone dopamine. Subsequently, our positive motivational levels to keep on being the best version of ourselves, will be boosted. 

Enjoying our own happiness requires a combination of self-kindness, mindfulness, and intentional changes to our daily habits. By being kinder to ourselves, staying present, and focusing on positive actions, we can create a more joyful and fulfilling life, even in the fast-paced and demanding world we daily face. 

Sources: 

• Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. 

• What is Mindful Self-Compassion? (Incl. Exercises + PDF) (positivepsychology.com)