When we hear the term Self-Criticism, it’s often associated with words like self-doubt, fear, low self-esteem, and the list can go on. And I have learned over the years that how we speak to ourselves can help or harm our progression as we cope with our mental health.
I say this because we all have internal conversations from the moment we wake up until we go to bed. They are the constant murmurings in our minds that will talk us into something or out of it without merit. It’s the voice that tells us we are not good enough, and no one cares. It’s the constant humming during the day that dredges the past and places it in our lap, leaving us paralyzed with irrational fear. It will talk you out of doing something you are more than capable of doing. It’s the subtle tapping that can range from convincing yourself you are not enough to no loves you and never will.
Self-Criticism is a liar and is wreaking havoc on our mental health, and most of the time, no one on the outside is aware of the war in our minds. But if you’ll allow me, I’d like to offer a nugget of hope that has helped me cope over the years. God knows the battles of your mind and the weight on your heart and he loves you, and cares for you, even if you think he doesn’t.
Every time we criticize ourselves, we are breaking ourselves down mentally removing the goodness that is there but we fail to see. I dare you to replace your negative thoughts with positive, and over time, there will be less room for the negative thoughts to survive.
Find comfort in knowing that you are not alone in your struggle. Some of the most successful people struggle with self-criticism and I want to let you in on a secret. Self-Criticism has a nemesis and its name is Affirmation.
I want you to come up with Affirmations that will knock out your self-criticism. I want you to fill your head and heart with positive words and do it in any way that works for you. Write them down, record and play it back to yourself, say it in front of a mirror. Whatever it is, just do it!
Here are a few to get you started:
- I am Enough!
- I am worthy
- I believe in Myself
- My life is a gift
- I Accept who I am, as I am
- I forgive ME
I want to leave you with food for thought. I want us all to normalize speaking to ourselves with the same kindness we freely give when speaking to others.