Ep 100: Why Are We So Hard On Ourselves?

Why is it that we’re often our own harshest critics? Why are we harder on ourselves for mistakes, we would easily forgive others for? I know I’ve experienced self-criticism, especially when it comes to perfectionism.

Society expects us to always do well and emphasises achievement. We’re told to work hard and be resilient. Social media fuels this by setting unrealistic standards we’ve all seen and come accustomed to but are still vulnerable to.

Perfectionism, the inner critic, and the fear of judgment can also play a psychological part of self-criticism.

Luckily, cultivating self-compassion and reframing negative thoughts can combat self-criticism. In this episode, I’ll discuss various tried-and-true practical strategies for living a more joyful, self-compassionate life.

What You Will Discover:

Why people tend to be harder on themselves than on others
The societal expectations that contribute to self-criticism: emphasis on achievement and success, cultural values of hard work and resilience, and the influence of social media in setting unrealistic standards
The psychological factors behind self-criticism: perfectionism, the inner critic, and the fear of judgment
Practical strategies to develop self-compassion, including: practicing mindfulness, setting SMART goals, building a support system, and more