Struggling with self-kindness? Here's a starting point

Whilst camping last week I overheard a lady say to a child: 

“When you clean your teeth, don’t just brush - clean every tooth.”

Why did it leap out at me?

Because to me this is a great example of self-kindness in action, which I wanted to share with you.

Thinking of each wonderful tooth inside your mouth.

Not rushing. Not skipping. Not doing the bare minimum because you’re too busy.

But giving attention to what your body really needs.

I’ll be honest with you - I’ve never loved “getting ready.”

Showering, washing my hair, the whole routine… it always felt like a chore, something to get out of the way before “real life” could start.

But the more I’ve leaned into self-kindness since my burnout in 2018, the more I see it differently.

It’s not a chore. It’s care.

It’s saying to myself: you deserve this moment to refresh, to feel good in your skin, to step into the day with energy and calm.

I often catch myself telling my son that kindness is about giving your body what it needs, your mind what it needs; helping yourself first.

And maybe that starts with the small things.

Every tooth.

Every shower.

Every pause to check in with how you’re really doing.

Because what I've realised - which is key to how I could have done things differently when I was in the legal profession - is to believe that self kindness is essential.

It's a fundamental ingredient of high performance.

It's high performance in action. 

High performance that's healthy, and you can sustain.

Isn't that, after all, what we all want? 

If you’re ready to explore self-kindness in a way that builds real resilience and sustainable high performance - perhaps start here, with the S.E.R.V.I.C.E Wellbeing Framework, which I created after experiencing burnout and I lean into over and over again. 

It’s designed to help you notice the parts of your wellbeing you’ve been brushing past, and give them the attention they deserve.

Because kindness isn’t indulgence.

It's not negotiable.

It’s essential.

So, Vikki how will you show yourself kindness today?

Or, maybe you are wondering where to start?  

Give it a go to score yourself against the S.E.R.V.I.C.E. Scorecard by clicking the link below.  It's an opportunity to reflect on yourself and what you're doing well and what might need some more of your attention. 

 https://skylarkserviceblocks.scoreapp.com 

Yours,

Vikki “cleaning every tooth” Pratley