You Are Your Own Best Friend

The golden rule — treating others as you’d want to be treated — can help guide you in life, but turn it inward right now. Treat yourself as well as you would any good friend. Dr. Kristin Neff points out that, “Self-compassion involves acting the same way towards yourself [as you would your friend] when you are having a difficult time, fail, or notice something you don’t like about yourself.” Ask yourself how you’d comfort someone else, and then turn that comfort inward. Self-compassion reduces depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. So tell your self-critic to take a hike and be your best friend instead.

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