Go Kit-Kat Yourself!

I’m being silly with this title, but kinda serious too. Kit-Kats are my oldest’s favorite candy bar. Well, one of them. I mean, if it’s got sugar and is in his hand, it’s his favorite candy bar. But, do you remember the jingle for Kit-Kat? “Give me a break. Give me a break. Break me off a piece of that Kit-Kat Bar.” That’s what I’m getting at today, give yourself a break.

So, I’m a couples therapist, but I also do work with individuals and this is an issue I run into often. People are SO hard on themselves! Think of it this way, if someone talked to you about the stuff they’re dealing with and was as harsh and judgmental as you are toward yourself, what would you say to them? You’d probably try to be encouraging and tell them to lighten up on themselves, right? At the very least, you would be sympathetic and show some kind of compassion.

So, why are you such a hard-ass toward yourself? Seriously! Honestly though, I do it too, and it totally sucks and I wish I would stop…and I wish you would stop too! The truth is that we are always WAY harder on ourselves than we are on others, but it’s not fair to us. We should have the same compassion toward ourselves as we would have toward others!

So, today, I want you to give yourself a break…and maybe tomorrow too! I mean it! When you notice the harsh words you have toward yourself or the lack of compassion for some behavior or thought, I want you to give yourself a break. Tell yourself to back off and take it easy. Then, go get your favorite candy bar and enjoy it. Savor it. Give yourself the night off from being judged by you!

Let me be clear here, it’s not going to be easy. It’s gonna keep popping up, these things that you can’t stand about yourself will be in your face A LOT! But, keep practicing a little self-care and self-compassion. Tell yourself, “No, I’m not gonna judge me like that. I’m gonna take it easy and deal with that later”

So, put on your PJ’s and dig out that gallon of ice cream. Put on that movie that makes you laugh and give yourself a much needed break!