How To Be a Better Friend to Yourself

I can be insane at times. My view of the world and my life can be extremely negative. My perspective is consumed by what can go wrong, the opportunities lost, the mistakes I’ve made, and how everything can, and in my mind will, fall apart. This is insanity because my thinking is just not accurate. My perspective is flawed, which is what I mean by insanity. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, old or young, healthy or sick. Your life, like mine, will always have difficult times. Sometimes we can predict these moments, but usually, they catch us by surprise. If you’re proactive in your self-care, you can prevent much of the insane thinking from sticking. Nobody can take better care of you than you!

4 Ways to Be Your Own Best Friend

Tool #1: Be Kind to Yourself

Loving yourself is a battle for many people. From my experience, even those that seem confident externally usually struggle within. Create a list of activities to turn to when your self-worth dwindles. Select six activities below. Add your ideas as well. Engaging this list when you need something to pick you up and put yourself in the right place.

“Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” – Parker Palmer

Tool #2: Practice Friendly Self Talk

Do you treat yourself like a friend or an enemy? If you treated your friends, the way you treat yourself, would you still have any friends? Your friends show care and concern for you when you’re struggling. I’m sure they’re patient, kind, warm, and gentle. Recognize your negative self-talk, and replace it with the words of your closest friends.

“Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you won’t do anything with it.” – M. Scott Peck

Tool #3: Enjoy Your Hobbies

One of the first things I try to figure out with new clients is how much fun they are having in their life. What do they engage in to unwind each day? Having activities to look forward to, outside of work, where we feel successful, improves our resiliency. These activities do much more for our mental health than most think. Here’s a List of 100 Hobbies to get you thinking of ideas. Plan to engage something today! 

If you found this information helpful, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to access my Free video & worksheet, Shatterproof Yourself: 7 Small Steps to a Giant Leap in Your Mental Health. 

Tool #4: Energizers & Drainers

There are activities you engage in each day that fill you with hope. There are things you engage in daily that fill you with fear. Are you engaging in self-sabotage, without even knowing it? I use a worksheet with clients to identify the people, places, and things that energize and drain them. Engage what fills you up and minimize what depletes you.

Choose today to love yourself! This may seem like a simplistic solution to a complex problem, but the simple solutions are the best. The simple solutions are the ones that stick. Being good to yourself is a choice.

From working as a counselor since 1998, I’m convinced that every person has the potential to be at a very low place. I’m no exception. I’ve had some very dark days. Take this activity seriously, your future depends on it.

If you found this information helpful, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to access my Free video & worksheet, Shatterproof Yourself: 7 Small Steps to a Giant Leap in Your Mental Health.

Related Content

18 Ways to Build Self-Confidence (post) – by Adam Gragg
12 Life Balance Tips (post) by Adam Gragg
Kickstart Your Self-Confidence (post) – by Adam Gragg
How to Like & Value Yourself (post) – by Adam Gragg

Decide Your Legacy Podcast #66: How to Believe in Yourself on Apple & Spotify