Don't Be So Hard on Yourself

Why does it bother you when you see someone belittling, yelling, or verbally abusing someone else, but at the same time, you allow yourself to speak to yourself in that same tone? That doesn't make sense, yet it happens on a daily basis to so many of us.  Why are we so hard on ourselves? Pushing, prodding, and criticizing ourselves is seems to be more of the rule than the exception these days. Despite what we’ve come to believe, living with an inner drill-sergeant, whose sole mission is to make us better and whip us into shape, isn’t the most effective strategy for self-improvement or living a happy, healthy, fulfilled life. In this every changing world, the abundant habit of self-judgement, criticism, and harmful self-talk sadly has not. To be honest, being hard on ourselves and never feeling like we are enough, is a societal norm.  I find it hard to believe that we don't want to feel good about ourselves. We want to have a healthy self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-love, but we often speak to ourselves in ways that not only keep us stuck in the stress response, but diminish our ability to feel good. You have to ask yourself if you want to be happier and more peaceful? If the answer is yes, then, be the radical for change and challenge your old beliefs. Because finding that inner peace and happiness is an inside job, no matter what anyone or society tells you.  Remember to err is human, to forgive divine. Recognizing we’re all human, and that we all make mistakes and stumble is very important.  Learn to hold these mistakes, mishaps, and failings with a little less pressure and seriousness. Remember none of us are perfect and mistakes do happen. When we are kind and compassionate with ourselves, then we become more compassionate with others. And becoming compassionate with ourselves creates better conditions for us to grow and flourish.