Jun 6, 2011

Kindness to self

"Parts of the left hemisphere (of the brain), when activated, allow us to be relaxed and open to the world, in contrast to being in a state of withdrawal.  Treating yourself with kindness will stimulate this part of your brain."  Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen. 

Another reason to treat ourselves with kindness.  It seems a well-accepted truth that we can be kind to no one, if we are not kind to ourselves.  Self love, healthy - not bravado, is the basis of feeling safe in the world and thinking kindly of others.  An old Hasidic tale says the only question we will be asked upon dying is, "Were you yourself?"  Each of is completely unique, and perhaps it is true that our only task in life is to fully develop the uniqueness of who we are.  We each have potential, within our brains and within our personality, that many people never fully develop.  It has been a longstanding passion of mine to develop my own potential and to support others to develop theirs.  As dementia caregivers, what is one act of kindness we can do today for ourselves and for the person for whom we provide care?

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