Don't Be so Hard on Yourself

We are always our own worst critic. When we don't meet the expectations we set for ourselves or we make a mistake, we usually do not treat ourselves with "kid gloves." We often beat ourselves up with negative self-talk and focus on our perceived weaknesses. 

When we are hard on ourselves, we are generally criticizing who we are rather than the choice we made. New parenting techniques teach us to correct the behavior, not criticize the child. When the negative focus is on the child, it tears down their self-worth. When we focus on the behavior, we can teach them alternative choices.

While we may want to believe coming down hard on ourselves is the only way we can do better, it's generally not the case. Being self-critical can crumble OUR self-worth. If we understand that we are human and it is normal to make mistakes, we can analyze and assess how we can handle a similar situation next time. 

If we're spending our time and energy beating ourselves up, we're not using that time productively to forgive ourselves and to practice self-awareness. Being self-aware enables us to grow and learn from our mistakes. 

As adults, we HAVE the ability to be self-aware of our behaviors, self-regulate, and adjust our choices as needed. No need to criticize who we are, instead we just try to do better next time. 

When we know better, we can do better.