On the face of it, it may seem that being critical of oneself is actually good. It encourages you to strive for more and achieve more. Yet, it doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes (quite often, in fact), it’s just counter-productive. Excessive self-criticism hinders growth, innovation, and, most importantly, happiness. Let’s now take a closer look at why you should consider being gentler with yourself.
Reason 1: Increased Stress and Anxiety
When you are constantly dissatisfied with yourself, you naturally get stressed. Many of us set extremely high expectations and feel disappointed when we fail to meet them, even if it was clear from the very start that they were impossible to meet.
So, what to do (if anything)? Well, the best thing is to learn to accept your limitations. More specifically, you need to accept that.
- Everyone has weaknesses (even if someone seems to have none).
- Perfection is a myth; nothing and nobody are perfect (otherwise, this world would be a very boring place).
- Being effective or productive doesn’t automatically make you successful. It’s okay if you are lazy or not in the mood to do anything on certain days.
Tip: Try setting daily “worryless periods.” Let yourself do anything you want to. Want to scroll on social media? No problem at all. Eager to play at Slot Lords? You are good to go. It’s your worryless time.
Reason #2: Lower Performance and Creativity
Over-criticism can, among all else, paralyze your ability to perform effectively and stifle creativity. Here’s how it works. First, you fear making mistakes due to harsh self-judgment. Then, as a result of this fear, you are less likely to take risks or try new approaches. So, you just miss growth and innovation opportunities, which you could otherwise use.
Alternatively, a more forgiving attitude lets you feel free. You try new things because you aren’t afraid, and sometimes, you do succeed.
Tip: Start a “learning log.” Here, you’ll record your experiments (not necessarily successful ones). Visited a new workshop? Write down your impressions. Won some cash in sexy slots at https://slotspeak.com/sexy-slots/? Write that down, too. In the long run, you’ll get used to the fact that making and learning from mistakes is normal.
Reason #3: Poor Physical Health
The worst thing of all is that stress always manifests physically. Some common (and pretty unpleasant) issues are chronic fatigue, headaches, and a weakened immune system. That’s because the psychological strain of trying to live up to unrealistic standards takes a tangible toll on the body.
When you let it go, you let your body rest. It, in turn, will thank you with more energy and stamina.
Tip: Try relaxation exercises (there are tons of them online). Ideally, they should become part of your daily routine. It can be yoga, meditation, deep breathing — anything.
Reason #4: Damaged Relationships
You may think that being hard on yourself makes you a better person. Your family and friends may think otherwise. The issue here is that if you are unforgiving of your mistakes, you might also be overly critical of others. This can strain or, in the worst case, damage relationships.
From this standpoint, learning to be kind to yourself is a sort of… responsibility. You then extend the same grace to others and make them happier.
Tip: Practice active listening and empathic responses in your interactions. That is, listen more and judge less (that’s relevant not only to others but to yourself, too).
Reason #5: Low Self-Esteem
This one is, perhaps, the most evident of all. Persistent self-criticism erodes your self-esteem. You begin to define yourself by your perceived failures and shortcomings. Worst of all, you no longer notice your strengths and achievements.
Positive self-talk can be a good remedy in this regard. It can remind your inner self that things aren’t that bad anyway and that it’s totally okay to let it go at times.