Holding yourself to high standards and goals can be great. You can work towards creating the life you have always wanted. However, being too critical or displaying perfectionistic tendencies can hinder your progress and growth. Take some time to think about the standards you hold yourself to. Here are a few suggestions to help ensure that you are not too critical of yourself.
Acknowledge Your Feelings
Acknowledge how you feel in the moment. When faced with tough challenges, do you find yourself motivated, or do you get anxious? When you can acknowledge how you feel, you can begin to learn how to work through those emotions. Assessing your feelings will also help you to better understand what is affecting your mental health and how it is affecting it.
Assess Your Standards
What standards are you holding yourself to? Are they realistic standards? How do you manage those standards? Creating high standards can be great; however, if you set unrealistically high standards, you may find yourself burning out as you try to reach those potentially unattainable goals. You may also find yourself feeling anxious and stressed. Set goals that help you work towards where you want your life to head.
Silence Your Inner Critic
Your inner critic — that pesky voice that tells you that you cannot do something — may tell you that you are not good enough or not worthy. This voice can have a negative impact on your self-esteem and confidence. When that voice is very loud, you may start being overly critical of yourself or your progress. Work with your therapist to better understand your inner critic and where that voice is coming from. Often, our inner critic is a manifestation of deeply rooted trauma.
Show Yourself Compassion
Work on showing yourself compassion. Give yourself a break, and let yourself enjoy the process of working towards your goals.
Often, we are our own harshest critics. Learning to change the narrative in your mind and speak kindly to yourself can be a process. Some will find it helpful to learn how to silence their inner critic. Others will find it essential to practice compassion and acknowledge feelings. Here at The Guest House, we understand how challenging and complex mental health is. You may not fully understand what you are feeling or why. We are here to support and help you. Call us today at (855) 483-7800 to learn more about treatment options.