Being a good friend, to yourself

Clouds
Originally uploaded by Cryptia.

Taken from here (kind of a 12 step site, but still pertains!!)

Get motivated! It simply means taking the initiative and getting into rigorous action of working on one's self improvement - daily.

Try and turn those bad habits into good habits! Pick one habit at a time and work on that for as long as it takes before moving on to the next one. Remember, take it one day at a time (have you heard that before?) and acknowledge your progress. Mark your growth in a personal journal or share your experiences with other people.

Love yourself! Regardless of every other relationship in your life you spend 100% of your time with... you! If you can't create that a functional, stable relationship then you will undoubtable have trouble living the quality of life you desire to. Become your #1 fan and enjoy spending time with yourself. Take time out to be a good friend to yourself.

Take the time! Take time out of your busy life to observe. There's a lot to miss when you don't use the entire spectrum of your sight around you.

Gratitude! It's difficult sometimes during the bad days or the sad moments to remember why we are happy to have the lives we do.

Start your day over! It doesn't matter if it's 8:00 in the morning or 9:00 at night. We have the power to turn our days and wills over at any point during the day. Waking up on the proverbial wrong side of the bed used to affect our entire days because we let it. Stop, take a deep breath and rework your thoughts, turn your anxiety, anger or sadness over to your higher power and start the day over.

These are some ways of the many I have learned in helping myself be a better friend to myself. It's no secret that we are our worst critics and the more we slow down and learn to love ourselves with the care and compassion that we show other people the better off our quality of life will be. There is nothing selfish or self-serving in taking care of our minds and bodies, of realizing the time when we need to be alone or be with others. The more we work on ourselves the more the rest of the people, places and things in our lives will fall into place around us with ease.