be kind to people

I just don’t really like myself at the moment. I’m so mixed up about my future and whom it should be with that I’m forgetting that people need kindness and that I need to be kind and to improve my behaviour and attitude towards people. I’m finding it really hard to be gentle and patient and loving when the world is being harsh to me but if I don’t do it how can I possibly expect that from others?

i’m afraid i am even too kind to people.
i must start caring about myself first, for a change.

I think the first step towards being genuinely kind to others and interested in their lives is learning to accept and love yourself, and not to be unduly influenced by others’ attitudes and opinions.

I’m just starting out on that one as well, but have made some good progress over the last few days. I realized (all over again!) that I am the expert on me! No-one knows me better than I do myself, or has more of a right to form an opnion on me than I do. If I know that I am not stupid, or whatever, then that’s what matters.

Encouragingly, I heard of one really intelligent Greek philosopher who used to be quite reserved when he was younger, and his classmates would nickname him ‘the dumb ox’. I can’t remember who it was now—maybe Archimedes? But it’s encouraging to remember that others’ opinions of you needn’t dictate who you are.