The title for this article makes up part of a verse from Robert Burns’ poem Auld Lang Syne; and whilst singing these words on New Year’s Eve, I realised that probably what we all need right now is to ‘take a cup of kindness’.
When we think of ourselves as being kind, it’s usually when we’ve acted with genuine compassion and thoughtfulness towards someone or something else.
How often are we truly kind to ourselves? Kind in the same way that we would be towards someone we love?
I think it’s safe to say that the majority of us spend more time, care and energy looking after our house, car and garden than we do on ourselves! We could all benefit from more self-care.
A good place to start is to think about what you would do for a friend in a moment of need, so that they felt loved, peaceful, joyful and content. Then think of ways that you could begin to weave that same level of care into your life for yourself. When do you feel loved, peaceful, joyful and content?
Buddha said: ‘You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
So take a cup of kindness for yourself; you are certainly worthy of it.
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