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How to be Gentle When It’s Hard

Abby Dougherty
2 min readOct 10, 2023
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

Being gentle with oneself is vital for mental, emotional, and physical well-being, especially during times of stress, sadness, or exhaustion. Cultivating self-compassion and kindness allows you to navigate through difficult periods with grace and understanding. Here are some strategies and activities you might consider when you need to practice gentleness toward yourself:

Engage in Self-Compassion

Speak Kindly to Yourself: Use affirming and kind words in your self-talk.

Forgiveness: Allow yourself grace and forgive yourself for any perceived shortcomings.

Practice Mindfulness and Relaxation

Meditation: Engage in mindfulness meditation to anchor yourself in the present moment.

Deep Breathing: Practice deep breathing exercises to calm your nervous system.

Connect with Nature

Nature Walks: Spend time in nature, maybe through a leisurely walk in a park or near a body of water.

Gardening: Connect with the earth through activities like gardening.

Pamper Yourself

Spa Day at Home: Consider a relaxing bath, a face mask, or any activity that feels like pampering.

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Abby Dougherty
Abby Dougherty

Written by Abby Dougherty

Abby Dougherty, PhD, loves to learn, and produce scholarship on relational-cultural theory, virtual reality, AI, and using mindfulness in counselor education.

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