Stop Being Self-Critical and Start Being Self-Compassionate

Stop Being Self-Critical and Start Being Self-Compassionate

As human beings, we all fail at some point, but what differs is how hard we are on ourselves when expectations are not met. Most people end up making resolutions that are grounded in self-criticism, which is counter-productive as it results in demoralization.

Excessive or thoughtless self-criticism can easily lower a person’s self-esteem, as well as being unproductive in learning how to handle predicaments in the future. With this in mind, health experts advise on finding ways to eradicate harsh self-criticism and learning productive coping techniques in a bid to attain maximum wellness.

Self-criticism is not a positive or realistic aspiration of becoming a better person but rather it is a dark centered belief that we are not good enough. For those with a pronounced inner critic, they can attest that it is insidiously embedded into their psyche. Once you engage in objective self-evaluation and can reduce your harmful self-criticism, you will end up boosting your self-esteem and embracing self-compassion.

According to mental health experts, self-criticism is the first step to depression and often disrupts a person’s rational thinking. This mental and emotional environment creates and strengthens stress triggers and raises anxiety levels, inflicting damage to their overall health.

Practicing self-compassion changes how an individual responds to challenges, with reduced impacts on their wellness and function. It provides them clarity of mind, to offer direct solutions instead of escalating the situation at hand without contributing to a solution.
Ways to Reduce and Eliminate Self-criticism

Stop chasing self-esteem and just be self-compassionate 

Be One with your Inner Voice

Many people waste a considerable amount of time reflecting on destructive thoughts and paying excessive attention to their inner critic. These people are often guilty of sabotaging their own lives with self-destructive patterns that limit their true potential.

When this becomes habitual it becomes impossible to set worthwhile goals or motivate yourself towards success. Nothing is ever definite with a negative inner voice. Simple decisions end up being complex problems while intuition gets replaced with indecisiveness and every step along your way is characterized by second-guessing.

It is very possible to turn this habit around. When you allow yourself to correlate with your inner voice, you become your ever-present consultant, instead of a constant critic. You become your own best friend. The attitude of your inner voice should thus be influenced to reflect positivity, encouragement, and optimism through any given situation.

All human beings are torn between their real self and their anti-self. A real self focuses more on nurturing experiences and caring attitude while the anti-self is derived from painful experiences that we witness or experience and later internalize.

Self-compassion.

The Art of Self-compassion

There is so much you can do towards bettering yourself as a person, rather than acting in accordance with the critical inner voice. Foremost among these ways is embracing self-compassion. Self-compassion has been shown to be a very effective way to reduce self-criticism as it helps in making real-life changes.

Unlike self-criticism, self-compassion helps you cope with challenges and leaves you better equipped for dealing with past and future trauma. Self-compassion should not be mistaken for feeling sorry for yourself. It entails shedding negativity that accumulates from within and channeling all of it into positive energy to motivate you through the times that test.

A very effective way to start and to manage self-compassion is to keep a personal journal that documents your transition towards optimal wellness. In this journal, you can start by writing your day to day achievements and things that made your day exuberant.

Especially ponder and record the little wins that you have over your previously self-limiting behaviors. These may mean little to someone else, yet they are the steps that take you to new levels of wellness and ability.

Another key step is exercising positive self-talk and taking time to appreciate yourself daily. Seek the honest feedback from loved ones on the strengths and weaknesses they see in you and from this create an action plan on how to improve on your shortcomings.

With some time and effort, you will have a whole new perception of self and you will have the ability to discern constructive self-criticism from malicious self-criticism.

How do you feel self-worth?

…www.mind.org.uk › information-support › self-esteem › about-self-esteem about self-esteem | Mind, the mental health charity – help for mental …
…https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/self-esteem/about-self-esteem/

What is self-esteem? like and value yourself as a person.are able to make decisions and assert yourself. recognize your strengths and positives.feel able to try new or difficult things. show kindness towards yourself. move past mistakes without blaming yourself unfairly.take the time you need for yourself. More items…www.mind.org.uk › information-support › self-esteem › about-self-esteem about self-esteem | Mind, the mental health charity – help for mental …www.mind.org.uk › information-support › self-esteem › about-self-esteemSearch for: How do you feel self-worth?

How do I raise my self-esteem and confidence?

…www.entrepreneur.com › article10 Things You Can Do to Boost Self-Confidence – Entrepreneur
…https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/281874

Here are 10 things you can do to build up your self-confidence. Visualize yourself as you want to be. … Affirm yourself. … Do one thing that scares you every day. … Question your inner critic. … Take the 100 days of rejection challenge. … Set yourself up to win. … Help someone else. … Care for yourself. More items…Feb 7, 2019 …www.entrepreneur.com › article10 Things You Can Do to Boost Self-Confidence – Entrepreneur …www.entrepreneur.com › article search for: How do I raise my self-esteem and confidence?

How do you build self-love?

…www.psychologytoday.com › blog › get-hardy › seven-step-prescription…A Seven-Step Prescription for Self-Love | Psychology Today
…https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/get-hardy/201203/seven-step-prescription-self-love

THE BASICS Become mindful. People who have more self-love tend to know what they think, feel, and want. … Act on what you need rather than what you want. … Practice good self-care. … Set boundaries. … Protect yourself. … Forgive yourself. … Live intentionally. Mar 27, 2012www.psychologytoday.com › blog › get-hardy › seven-step-prescription…A Seven-Step Prescription for Self-Love | Psychology Today…www.psychologytoday.com › blog › get-hardy › seven-step-prescription…Search for: How do you build self-love?