Stop Being So Hard on Yourself

Discover how embracing self-compassion can boost your mental health and overall well-being. Learn practical tips to overcome self-criticism, reduce stress, and improve your relationships.

The other day, I was supposed to meet a good friend for coffee and was excited to catch up. But I had a chaotic day and completely forgot about our plans. It wasn't until later that evening when I saw a missed call and a text saying, "Hey, is everything okay?" that it hit me. I felt pretty embarrassed. I immediately called to apologize, feeling like I'd let her down. She was understanding, but I couldn't shake off the disappointment in myself. Thoughts like "I'm so irresponsible" and "What kind of friend am I?" kept swirling in my mind.

Then I paused and asked myself: If the roles were reversed and she had forgotten, would I be this hard on her? Definitely not. I'd probably say something like, "No worries, these things happen!" So why wasn't I offering the same kindness to myself?

It was a gentle reminder that we often extend compassion to others but forget to give it to ourselves. Being kind to ourselves isn't always easy, but it's so important for our well-being.

"You yourself, as much…