What If You Were A Newborn?
I’m still a bit obsessed with our new kitten — in a very good way. 😉 The other day, during a work break, I held him in my lap, noticing the faint “cat food breath,” which strangely smells like fish even though his food is poultry flavored.
Despite that, it didn’t diminish my love for him. I admired his gorgeous eyes, perfectly placed whiskers, and delicately painted paws. Every tiny detail of his growing body and personality captivated me. I didn’t criticize him or ask him to change.
And then it hit me: isn’t this how we could treat ourselves and others?
Treating Yourself Like a Baby
When we observe kittens or puppies, we rarely judge them for imperfections. Their innocence is part of their charm. They exist untainted by judgment, simply as they are.
What if we applied the same perspective to ourselves? To see ourselves as babies — pure, innocent, and worthy of love? By doing so, we can reconnect with that innate innocence and release the self-criticism we’ve internalized from society.
A Daily Practice for Self-Love
Here’s my invitation: take a few moments each day to close your eyes and see yourself as a tiny baby. Notice how precious, delicate, and innocent you are.
- Accept your imperfections with love.
- Reduce self-criticism and harsh judgments.
- Extend the same compassion to others.
Practicing this daily for 30 days or more can transform your relationship with yourself and the world, helping you cultivate a natural sense of self-love, patience, and empathy.
From Self-Love to Compassion
As your self-love grows, your judgments of others naturally soften. Our tendency to criticize often begins internally — being harsh with ourselves first. By giving yourself grace, you also give others a break, creating a ripple effect of kindness and understanding.
So start today. Give yourself, and everyone else, a break… starting right meow! 🐾