Extend Grace to Yourself
Dear Educators,
In a world where we are most likely to extend kindness to others, it's easy to forget to extend that same grace to ourselves. We are often our own harshest critics, quick to point out our flaws and slow to acknowledge our strengths. But today, I urge you—and myself—to be kinder to ourselves.
Today, I heard something on Instagram that got me thinking and it was “If you treat your friends the way you treat yourself will they stick around?” This sentence hit me hard because I am always hard on myself but I try to be as graceful as I can to people around me, i make excuses for them even when things don’t go the way it's supposed to but guess what….I’m not that kind on myself.
How often do we engage in negative self-talk, criticizing every step we take? How often do we refuse to forgive ourselves for our mistakes, holding onto guilt and self-blame? It's time to change that narrative. It's time to become our own cheerleaders, our own sources of encouragement and support.
When things don't go as planned, let's offer ourselves forgiveness and understanding. Let's recognize that we are only human, capable of making mistakes and learning from them. And when things do go well, let's celebrate our successes and acknowledge our efforts.
Self-reflection is important, yes. It's crucial to recognize areas where we can improve and grow. But let's not allow self-criticism to overshadow self-kindness. Let's learn to strike a balance between self-improvement and self-compassion.
I confess, I fall into the trap of being too hard on myself as well. Even when I accomplish something, I find myself focusing on what could have been done better. But I'm making a conscious effort to change that mindset, to extend grace to myself just as I would to a friend.
Dear educators, let's embark on this journey together. Let's be kinder to ourselves, offering ourselves the same compassion and understanding that we readily give to others. Let's be our own cheerleaders, our own champions.
Remember, you are worthy of kindness and grace—especially from yourself.
With warmth and encouragement,
Agnes Onyekwere