MKE Week 18 – Kindness and Gratitude

I’ve still been thinking about kindness week and the daily gratitude cards I write. It’s so easy for us as human beings to be our own worst enemy and harshest critic. I know the focus of kindness week was really toward other people, but I realized that I require being kind to myself most of all.

I do so much for others and rarely, if ever, give myself credit for it (until this course). I can counsel friends and encourage coworkers, but when it comes to supporting and being kind to myself… well I don’t even want to put on paper the kinds of thoughts that go through my mind.

I would never tell my best friend the mean things I tell myself and so, I need to become my own best friend (like the character Barf says, “Mog” from Spaceballs haha). By being the observer, I can catch these negative thoughts (7 day mental diet) and instantly replace them with a positive one (7 laws).

I’ve noticed I have many negative thoughts about my body image and those thoughts aren’t helping my mental attitude as I embrace a new lifestyle change with the foods I eat. I realize the only way to change my thoughts is through daily practice until I become amazing at supporting myself (7 laws).

Gratitude for the gal in the glass

In order to be kinder and form more of a best friend approach with myself, I have been expressing gratitude for my body in my sits.

I start at my toes and say, “Thank you big toe for helping me keep my balance and testing the temperature of any body of water before I get in!” I tell my feet, “Thank you for supporting me and giving me the ability to walk.” Knees, “Thank you for helping me bend my legs and swing them when I sit in a chair.”

I work my way up to my thighs and say, “Thank you thighs for giving me a lap for my dogs to sit on when they need love and attention.” “Thank you bottom for giving me something to sit on when my legs are tired.” Belly, “Thank you for giving me a place to rest my book when I’m reading in bed.” I tell my hips, “Thank you so much for connecting my legs to my body and moving side to side as I dance.”

I appreciate my arms and say, “Thank you for letting me use you to give people hugs.” “Thank you hands for helping me do sign language and give high 5’s.” Further up, “Thank you neck for keeping my head up and the flexibility to move it side to side.” Thank you jaw for helping me chew my food and talk.”

That’s just a few parts, but you get the idea. Some days I do the outside body parts and sometimes I thank my internal organs for their functions in keeping me alive in their unique ways. This process is a good way for me to focus (magnifying glass) and deliberately express kindness and gratitude about my body to my mind and subconscious.