This happened last night - Lessons of Kindness

Have you had that moment when you realise you left your keys and you are locked out of your house? That was me last night.I had a whole another letter written for you, but then last night happened and I had to write about it. When things don't go as planned - there are always lessons and perspectives to connect with.Let me tell you the full story.I left the office after work and spent the 30min commute talking to one of my best mates on FaceTime. The moment I arrive at my door at home - my internet stops working. No bars on my phone. Then I realise: I don’t have my keys. I left them at the office, and the office is now locked too, so I cannot even commute back to go get them.Reality starts to sink in.“How am I going to get in?”As my phone was not working either, I could not WhatsApp anyone in the house to let me in. My own studio upstairs was obviously locked as well, so even if I got in the house, I would not get into my flat.I took a few breaths. Calmed myself down to think what is the rational solution: Call the property manager to let me in and I get my keys from the office tomorrow.I call, but the phone call phone call was not working either. I could hear him talking, but he couldn't hear me. At this point I am thinking Universe is doing its tricks.As a last resort, I start banging on the door loudly until one of the girls who live in the house lets me in.I explain to her my ridiculous situation and ask if she can call the property manager on my behalf. She does. The property manager says he will come in 30 minutes. Deeply grateful to my housemate's kindness - I go downstairs to the communal kitchen to wait. The moment I saw him arrive, I have never been more grateful about his kindness to come help outside office hours.It is these kind of scenarios when we miss something, forget something or make a mistake that we are reminded about our humanness. We all have these moments which remind us of our imperfection and they always give us valuable lessons, and we can choose how we respond to them. Instead of beating myself up which is what I would have done years ago, I laughed and stayed calm through this whole scenario.In our monthly Connected Circle event Sunday night, we spoke about self-love through the five love languages. I mentioned how it can be easy for us to be kind to others but it is harder to do that for ourselves. We can be the best friend for others: but how can we do that for ourselves?Today I was that friend to myself that I wished was there helping me. To remain calm. Take a few breath and find a way to solution with rationale. Ask for help. Be patient waiting and laugh about it after.So remember this: you can always be that friend you need to yourself.I could have panicked and become irritated. To make hasty decisions that were not smart at all in my panic. Be impatient and annoyed waiting for the property manager to arrive.But, I chose love and kindness instead.In the circle Sunday we also spoke about how important it is to define love for ourselves as that is the foundation how love presents itself in our lives - for me the definition that came today was: love is kind.Kindness of myself through the situation.Kindness of my house mate opening the door and calling the property manager to help me.The property manager coming outside office hours to let me in.Kindness.There are people who are kind in this world.Let’s remember that, and to make the world even kinder, we can do that by us starting to be kinder to ourselves first.Love is kind.I will leave you with these two journal prompts for further connection:1. How can you be kinder to yourself this week?2. If I were to define love, what does love mean to me?Keep connecting, and keep moving.Essi

Words of Affirmation Actions for Self-Love

1. Go to a mirror and tell yourself "I love you." - looking at yourself in the mirror. Observe any resistance to do this. Does this make you feel uncomfortable or feel good? What is the feeling telling you about your connection with yourself?2. Try giving yourself a high five in the mirror after you brush your teeth tomorrow morning. Mel Robbins vouches for this habit - and it does work! It boosts you up same way as when you do it with other people.3. Put an affirmation as a wallpaper on your phone - perfect way to affirm yourself with the device we look at so many times a day!

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