Write a letter to yourself

Turn to a fresh page. Treat each week as a fresh start. Turn to a new page, metaphorically and literally, for the following prompts:

• Write a letter to your past self:
  What would you have the need to hear in the past? What do you wish you could tell yourself now?

• Write a letter to your current self:
  Our brains are often not kind to us, instead try to write as your best friend would write to you. If your best friend was in the same place you are currently, what would you tell them? Would you tell them how proud of them you are? What advice would you give them?

• Write a letter to your future self:
  In 5 years, what does your future look like? Who is your ideal self? Transforming your dreams into words is the first step that will allow you to manifest them.

Practice self compassion

Self-compassion is a positive attitude we can have towards ourselves, and it’s also an empirically measurable construct. Operationally defined and introduced to the positive psychology literature by Associate Professor Dr. Kristin Neff, it is comprised of three separate constructs: Self-kindness, Common Humanity, and Mindfulness. Dr. Kristin Neff herself notes, "Self-compassion is a practice of goodwill, not good feelings… With self-compassion we mindfully accept that the moment is painful, and embrace ourselves with kindness and care in response, remembering that imperfection is part of the shared human experience." 

Practice self compassion in the following tips by Dr. Kristin Neff: 

• Treat yourself as you’d treat a friend. One good place to start is by thinking about how you would treat others that you care about. So while we can’t always take away others’ pain, we can validate its existence and provide support to help them get through it and grow.

• Care for yourself as you’d treat others. Closely related to the previous tip, this is about being understanding and empathetic towards yourself. If a friend is feeling down, hurt, or upset, you might physically pat them on the back or hold their hand. Neff describes these as ways of tapping into our own ‘caregiving system’ to release oxytocin which has beneficial cardiovascular effects.

• Use ‘Releasing Statements’. Maybe you’ve never been a big fan of positive affirmations. Maybe they don’t feel natural or you believe they don’t quite ‘reach’ your Inner Critic at a subconscious level. If that’s the case, you might try what is colloquially referred to as ‘releasing statements’. These are closely related (if not equivalent) to mini-exercises in self-forgiveness and tap into the mindfulness concept of detached non-judgment. When you catch yourself thinking a negative thought like “I’m such a horrible person for getting upset”, try turning it around and ‘releasing’ yourself from the feeling. Instead, try “It’s okay that I felt upset”.

Get in tune with your body and mind with Open

Open is a mindfulness studio for everyone. A place to come to your senses — meditation, music, breathwork and movement awaken body and mind to bring you to the present moment.

Transform your mind through body and breath. Open classes are a new take on mindfulness—a blend of methodologies, of the old and new, of traditions and technologies. Practice designed to transport the mind to the here and now, taking you beyond your perceived potential.