As we walk this journey of life with each other and as a ministry, we are committed to our mission to be the compassionate presence of Jesus to one another. Pursuing that mission begins with a commitment to ourselves. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he said it was to love God and to love neighbor as oneself. Being called to live that dual commandment requires that, in addition to loving God and neighbor, we must love ourselves and be kind to ourselves. At its heart, kindness involves a generosity and goodness that seeks to advance well-being. Kindness to self, or self-care, enhances the quality of our lives and promotes gratitude for the gifts God has given us. This activity promotes practices to increase being kind to ourselves.

Extending the compassionate ministry of Jesus calls for kindness, beginning with being kind to ourselves.

It can be easy to be kind to others or to those in our community and workplace, but it can often be more challenging to be kind to ourselves. What does kindness to self look like? How important is it? Taking Jesus as our example, he often took time for himself, spending time in prayer and silence. This time rejuvenated him, reneweing his sense of self and affirming his own vocation to proclaim the reign of God. We too are called to be kind to ourselves, and in doing so we affirm our identity and dignity, cultivating generous hearts and loving lives. Kindness increases love, and love changes the world.

· Kindness and Compassion go hand in hand at Bon Secours Mercy Health. Learn more about compassion and ways to extend it to others through Called to Serve, a short online program available for all associates.

· Marelisa Fabrega gives us wonderful ways to show kindness to ourselves in her article 17 Ways to be Kind to Yourself.

· An article in Psychology Today written by Marianna Pogosyan, PhD, explains the research behind the importance of remembering to Be Kind to Yourself .

· Self-Compassion: Be Kind to Yourself is a short video explaining the importance of being kind, starting with yourself.

· A short, five minute exercise on self-kindness: Be Kind to Yourself.