Write Yourself a Love Letter

Do you practice self-compassion? Do you treat yourself with care and love when you have come across your own mistake or fault? 

This consists of:  
Being Kind to Yourself - Be gentle and understanding rather than being hard on yourself or overly critical.

Being connected to your community and loved ones rather than pushing them away and isolating yourself in a difficult time.

Being Mindful by acknowledging what we are going through rather than avoiding it, and being still in the exploration of self, rather than wishing it away. Allow the path of self-discovery to run its course. 

In the love letter to yourself, you will follow these steps.

1. Start with taking some time to reflect on a part of yourself where you are overly critical and hard on yourself. This will be the area where you are led to a path of self-judgment.

2. In detail, beginning with how you feel about yourself. Describe this vividly, not only with emotions but images. What stories or patterns to you associate with this?

3. Now, think about someone who has loved you unconditionally regardless of these traits you mentioned above. They see you for who you are as a whole and praise your strengths, and accept and forgive you as you are. They are kind to you and embrace you as a whole, they do not want to change you.

4. Now rewrite the letter to yourself through your friend's eyes. Make note of how they encourage you, how they guide you, and how they offer support towards working through the areas you are unhappy with. 

Now walk away from the letter. The letter does not have to be perfect, it is something private for you. On the days you are feeling down, sit with this letter that is written through your friend's eyes and take in the beauty of who you truly are.