These be kind to yourself quotes will help you nurture yourself

Being gentle with ourselves isn’t always easy. Life has a funny way of throwing challenges, doubts, and insecurities at us, making it tough to keep our self-love meters high. Add to that the fact that society is always encouraging us to push ourselves harder so that we can be the best we can be, and it’s easy to see how we can fall into the trap of chastising ourselves.

One of the most comforting things I’ve discovered on my own journey to self-love is knowing that I’m not alone on my path. These be kind to yourself quotes are powerful words of wisdom from other people that have moved through and overcome similar challenges.

According to Kristin Neff, PhD, a psychologist who was the first to define and measure the construct of self-compassion within research, self-compassion is defined as being kind and understanding to oneself in instances of pain or failure rather than being harshly self-critical.

Being good to yourself can sometimes feel like trying to catch sunlight in a jar - one moment you’re feeling proud of all that you’ve accomplished, and the next you’re beating yourself up. I get it. I go through these cycles all the time.

But on those days when my inner critic just won't hush, when the world seems to be turning faster than I can handle, and when showing myself the same kindness that I extend to others feels like an Olympic feat, the words in these self-compassion quotes bring me solace. Read on to discover how to be kinder to yourself!

Be sure to also check out my posts about self love affirmations, self-love journal prompts, self-love poems, and my interview with a self love expert! And check out this page for all things self-love.

Get cozy, sip your favorite drink, and read through these uplifting self-compassion quotes

HERE ARE 73 BE KIND TO YOURSELF QUOTES:

1. "You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." — Sharon Salzberg

2. "You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously." — Sophia Bush

3. "Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love." — Brené Brown

4. "Be kinder to yourself. And then let your kindness flood the world." — Pema Chödrön

5. "Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn't worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens." — Louise L. Hay

6. "To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." — Oscar Wilde

7. "When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life." — Jean Shinoda Bolen

8. "You carry so much love in your heart. Give some to yourself." — R.Z.

9. “Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.”― Malcolm S. Forbes

10. “When admiring other people’s gardens, don’t forget to tend to your own flowers.” ― Sandbar Khan

11. “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” ― William James

12. “No other love no matter how genuine it is, can fulfill one’s heart better than unconditional self-love.” ― Edmond Mbiaka

13. “As soon as you begin to love yourself, the war within will end.” ― Laura Chouette

14. "The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself." — Steve Maraboli

15. "Loving yourself is a daily practice. Be patient, and watch yourself bloom." — Unknown

16. "Self-compassion is not about comparing yourself to others; it is about accepting yourself as you are and embracing your journey." — Kristin Neff

17. "The love and attention you always thought you wanted from someone else is the love and attention you first need to give to yourself." — Bryant McGill

18. "Self-care is giving the world the best of you instead of what's left of you." — Katie Reed

19. "Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort." — Deborah Day

20. "Be kind to yourself, for we all struggle to find our way in this vast universe." — Avijeet Das

21. "When you extend kindness to yourself, you create a sanctuary of love, acceptance, and peace within your own heart." — John O'Donohue

22. "Allow yourself to be imperfect, for it is in our flaws that we find our true beauty." — Unknown

23. "Self-kindness is the foundation of all kindness, for only when we love ourselves can we truly love others." — Amit Ray

24. "You are not defined by your mistakes; you are defined by the grace and strength with which you rise above them." — L.R. Knost

25. "The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself." — Diane von Furstenberg

26. "Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting." — William Shakespeare

27. "You are your best thing." — Toni Morrison

28. "Treat yourself like you're someone you care about." — Jordan Peterson

29. "You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop." — Rumi

30. "In a society that profits from your self-doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act." — Caroline Caldwell

Check out these posts:

31. “Be patient with yourself. You are growing stronger every day. The weight of the world will become lighter…and you will begin to shine brighter. Don’t give up.” — Robert Tew

32. “You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.” — Diane von Furstenberg

33. “We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.” — Rick Warren

34. “Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.” — Stephen Covey

35. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” — Maya Angelou

36. "You're allowed to scream, you're allowed to cry, but do not give up." — Unknown

37. "You are not a mistake. You are not a problem to be solved. But you won't discover this until you are willing to stop banging your head against the wall of shaming and caging and fearing yourself." — Geneen Roth

38. “The relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have." — Jane Travis

39. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." — Socrates

40. "If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down." — Toni Morrison

41. “You owe yourself the love that you so freely give to other people." — Unknown

42. "How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you." — Rupi Kaur

43. "Don't forget to be kind to yourself." — Soren Kierkegaard

44. "The moment you start seeing your worth, you'll find it harder to stay around people who don't." — Unknown

45. "When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn't healthy. This meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and habits - anything that kept me small. My judgement called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving." — Kim McMillen

46. "Stop hating yourself for everything you aren't and start loving yourself for everything you already are." — Unknown

47. "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

48. "Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude toward ourselves can we have the right attitude toward others." — Wilfred Peterson

49. "Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one." — Eleanor Roosevelt

50. "If you have the ability to love, love yourself first." — Charles Bukowski

51. "Your time is way too valuable to be wasting on people that can't accept who you are." — Turcois Ominek

52. "You can't pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first." — Unknown

53. "You can't change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react to it." — Mahatma Gandhi

54. "You are not a mess. You are a feeling person in a messy world." — Glennon Doyle

55. "When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are." — Oprah Winfrey

56. "You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful." — Amy Bloom

57. "The only person who can pull me down is myself, and I'm not going to let myself pull me down anymore." — C. JoyBell C.

58. "Your relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have." — Robert Holden

59. "Be patient with yourself. Growth takes time, and every step forward is progress." — Unknown

60. "Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others." — Parker Palmer

61. "Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line." — Lucille Ball

62. "The better you feel about yourself, the less you feel the need to show off." — Robert Hand

63. "Loving yourself isn’t vanity. It’s sanity." — André Gide

64. "Self-care is how you take your power back." — Lalah Delia

65. "Be kind to yourself. It's hard to be happy when someone is mean to you all the time." — Christine Arylo

66. "It's not your job to like me; it's mine." — Byron Katie

67. "Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." — Christian D. Larson

68. "Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life." — Steve Jobs

69. "You are deserving of your own love and affection. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding." — Jack Kornfield

70. "Loving yourself starts with liking yourself, which starts with respecting yourself, which starts with thinking of yourself in positive ways." — Jerry Corsten

71. "To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness." — Robert Morley

72. "Be your own biggest supporter. You have the power to lift yourself up like no one else can." — Unknown

73. "The moment you realize your self-worth, you'll stop giving people discounts." — Karen Salmansohn

*******

Embracing self-kindness is an ongoing journey that requires patience, understanding, and a deep appreciation for your uniqueness. These inspiring self-compassion quotes serve as gentle reminders that being kind to ourselves is not selfish, but an essential act of self-preservation.

Let these words in these being kind to yourself quotes resonate within you and inspire you to treat yourself with the same love and compassion you offer to others. Remember, the relationship with yourself sets the tone for all other relationships in your life, so be kind, be gentle, and be loving to yourself always.

Be sure to also check out my posts about self love affirmations, self-love journal prompts, self-love poems, and my interview with a self love expert! And check out this page for all things self-love.

Did these self-compassion quotes touch you? I’d love to hear in the comments! This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I donate 10% of all proceeds made from this blog to charity. Find out more about the charity I am supporting here.