Self-criticism, or pointing out one’s weaknesses, can be a healthy approach to promoting self-awareness and personal development. However, overdoing it can also harm one’s sense of self-worth and mental stability. So what are the reasons behind it and some methods to cope?
Being critical of oneself entails a constant sense of unworthiness and inadequacy, causing the sensation of not being enough. It feels like you can never escape yourself because your flaws, failings, and errors are constantly on your mind.
I know It is bothering when self-criticism dominates, as you feel that you hardly ever perform better right then and there. It takes away your passions and curiosity, making it difficult to maintain an effort over time.
This blog will explain the reasons for your inner criticism and some coping methods.
What are the reasons behind self-criticism?
Here are some reasons behind people’s self-criticism
- Childhood trauma
Self-criticism is one of the many powerful habits we develop early in life when still youngsters. So it seems that if you grow up with someone constantly making fun of you and telling you how inadequate you are, you will eventually start doing the same thing to yourself.
- Challenging oneself
You may believe that pushing yourself drives you to perform better and accomplish more. You believe you’ll become lazy, ineffective, and ultimately useless if you aren’t always tough on yourself. This may stem from a pattern of anxiety, low self-worth, or imposter syndrome, where you believe no matter how much you try you still need to try more.
- Unreasonable expectations
Whether you are aware of it or not, self-criticism is based on the impossible standards of perfectionism, the idea that you shouldn’t ever make a mistake, and the notion that nothing you do is good enough. And here’s the thing, when you’re seeking signs that you’re flawed, you will always find them. This isn’t because you are imperfect, but because you’ve put yourself under a microscope and are ignoring any positive signs of your strength uniqueness, and authenticity.
Coping with self-criticism
Though the road to healing from self-criticism might be challenging, with the right motivation and self-love, you’re one step ahead!
Let’s discover some coping techniques together:
- Be mindful of your thoughts.
Because you’re accustomed to hearing your voiceover, it’s simple to stop being aware of the signals you’re conveying to yourself. But, if you start paying close attention to your thoughts, you can find that you criticize or discourage yourself from time to time, leaving you under the influence of your negative patterns. Make sure to listen to what your mind tells you every time you are being over-critical, and redirect these thoughts by reminding yourself of your true abilities and values.
- Remain positive!
A person with high standards will likely feel defeated after a failure or setback and will find it more difficult to remain optimistic. But holding such thoughts can lead to a vicious cycle of self-doubt and self-hatred, ironically making you more prone to failure in the future. Alternatively, to be more helpful, you can start formulating theories about how failures prevent you from succeeding and how you could have handled situations differently in the right way.
- Develop tolerance and compassion
When you increase your self-compassion, you start to accept flaws as a natural aspect of being human. It can be beneficial to face your flaws head-on and acknowledge that you are, after all, only human, beautiful with just the way you are
- Reflect outwards!
We frequently look inward when we’re in a self-critical frame of mind. Thus, turning your attention outside and interacting with others can be helpful if you want to address your inadequacies actively. Getting out with friends and spending more time with someone who embodies the qualities you want to emulate is also an excellent way to go!
It is essential to remember that you are worthy of love no matter where you are in life. Go easy on yourself and embrace your little glories every day!