What progress, you ask,have I made?I have begun to be a friend to myself.

Seneca

I came across this quote whilst reading ‘Focus on what matters’ by Darius Foroux, a book that draws inspiration on letters by the stoic philosopher Seneca.

Stoicism is an aspect of philosophy with emphasis on exercising the mind to focus on what we can control and persevering in the face of challenges/difficulties. This is my understanding of it so far.

There are several resources on it if it’s something you’ll be interested in. You can visit dailystoic.com if you’re a beginner and want to know more.
I’m definitely going to be doing another reading on Stoicism.

I thought it was such a beautiful reminder, and I’ve done some pondering over it. The quote is a poignant reminder on the importance of nurturing friendship with our own selves.

In today’s fast-paced world, it can be so easy to overlook the relationship we have with ourselves. We shower love on our friends and have so much faith in them. We show them compassion and kindness, yet we extend little to our own selves. You deserve grace, too.

Here’s a question – would you treat your friends with an ‘I can’t be bothered’ mindset. The answer is a resounding no. If it’s a yes, that’s a cause for concern.

Somewhere last year, there was a trending question on X about how people realised their ‘friend’ hated them. Well, it’s a no-brainer to know that isn’t a friend.

Self-friendship encompasses a number of aspects: practising self compassion to cultivating self – awareness.

In moments where you’ve quick to be harsh to yourself, be kind. You’re learning, and in the course of that journey, you’ll make mistakes. Before you bruise yourself with ugly self-talk, ask yourself if you’d do that to a loved one.

Self-care feels like a luxury in today’s busy schedule, but surely you can set aside time for yourself. This is a call to build the most crucial relationship – the one you have with yourself because you’re going to live with you for a long time.

Let me know in the comments section instances where you’ve felt the need to be a friend or a better friend to yourself.