A string of achievements can build a person’s morale. You would expect a person of great accomplishments to exude an air of confidence at all times; but surprisingly, even the most successful person can experience bouts of self doubt and uncertainty. In an interview by Humans of New York, a popular photo blog, former president Barack Obama revealed that he had to struggle to keep his spirits up during the lowest moments of his life.
From time to time, we all hear that tiny voice saying we are not good enough. This small voice can be helpful as it can prevent a lax attitude. However, if you start noticing the voice getting louder, it can cripple you instead of push you to be better. Keep your zest for life from slipping away by finding ways to mute that inner critic. That small voice that magnifies your weaknesses stems from within, so the cure should also be directed within. You can start with the decision to be kinder to yourself. The following three reminders can help you learn to nurture self love, control your inner critic and love yourself more:
Know your worth. That harsh critic inside can be like a bully. But if you have a healthy sense of self-respect, you will not allow yourself to be affected. You gain enough courage to stand up against anyone who tries to scare and intimidate you because you know the kind of treatment you deserve. If you know how to show respect to others, you also have a right to demand the same from them. Low self-esteem feeds your inner critic, so suppress its growth by nurturing your confidence.
Practical Tips: To instill a strong sense of self worth, you can develop a personal mantra or engage in meditation exercises. Placing a motivational quote where you can always see it can also remind you of your skills and goals.
Accept yourself wholeheartedly. Part of knowing your worth is being aware of your shortcomings. You accept that these flaws are part of your personality but it does not make you any less of a person. No one is perfect, so there is nothing wrong with embracing yourself wholeheartedly, flaws and all. You are always free to try ways to overcome imperfections but do not punish yourself if you find the process difficult. If you are less judgmental and critical of yourself, the inner voice reminding you of your weaknesses will also be gentler.
Practical Tips:. Be aware of the attitude and behaviors of the people you mostly spend time with. If negative people surround you, you may find it harder to be kinder to yourself. Meanwhile, spending time with positive people who accept you for who you are will help you see yourself in a positive light. Self-acceptance will also be easier if you stop comparing yourself to others.
Strive for self-improvement. Knowing your strengths builds your confidence. Awareness of your abilities can lead you to discover areas in your life need improvement. Once you identify your weak areas, you can start taking steps to learn or improve them. The passion to continually learn new things can increase your competence and boost confidence. If you are busy finding ways to improve yourself and learn new things, that nasty voice inside will barely be audible.
Practical Tips: You will never run out of ways to further improve yourself, so keep on challenging yourself to be better. Consider signing up for a fitness gym to be healthier or enroll in a course you are interested in to increase your knowledge on a subject area.
If you find yourself feeling a little down and doubting your abilities, there is no reason to panic. Moments of self-uncertainty happens to the best of us. Still, looking at your own reflection and seeing nothing but flaws is surely a red flag. Take steps to control that inner critic by focusing on showering yourself with the love and care you definitely deserve.
