Do you have that little voice in your head that is often highly critical and negative about you? Most people tend to make the same judgments about themselves time and again. Someone might think they are fat, another person might keep telling herself she is a loser. This constant stream of negative self-talk is just plain bad for you. Think about it: you probably wouldn’t judge another person as harshly as you judge yourself.

You might spend your life caring for others, forgetting about yourself. But if you use all your energy looking after others, you can end up burnt out. You can also get stressed, irritable and sometimes even resentful. This is not a good state of mind. So you need to take time to replenish yourself.

Learn to treat yourself gently and accept yourself for who you are. Be as kind to yourself as you are to others. Perhaps it would be useful if you imagine you are someone you’ve just met. Would you insult or criticize this new friend? Or, would you treat them with kindness and consideration?

You need to treat yourself as an important Person. Kindness begins with being kind to and nurturing yourself. Make yourself a priority to you so that you can engage fully in your life. Don’t rely on other people to make you feel good. Other people’s opinions are just that, theirs. Instead, congratulate yourself on a job well done.

Tell yourself you look great in that outfit. Be grateful and cultivate an attitude of gratitude. When something good happens, think how lucky you are. Be kind to others, but don’t forget to be kind to yourself. Be sure to read to the end to learn how to replace negative self-talk with positive messages.