Neutralize Self-Criticism by Presenting It As the Voice of Loved Ones
The ability to admit your mistakes is a useful skill. Be critical of yourself to the point that it undermines your motivation. The next time you feel overwhelmed, imagine how your criticism from your loved one would sound.
Chances are, there is at least one person in your life who has tried to cheer you up. Whether it’s a parent, teacher, colleague, or other significant person, someone is likely to want to understand your limitations or failures and still see your positives. They are least likely to throw you under the bus the first time you screw up. Imagine how they’ll react can help you understand that you don’t need to be so hard on yourself:
Talking to yourself out loud will make you smarter, improve your memory, help you focus, and even improve athletic performance. Maybe you won’t buy it. Talking to yourself rather than doing it for you? Imagine that someone who loves you speaks kind words instead.
Your self-perception can affect your actual performance in unexpected ways. If you don’t think you can do something, you are less likely to challenge yourself. However, allowing yourself to filter out some of your harshest criticisms through the lens of someone with a vested interest in seeing your positive side can help you avoid a self-defeating trap.
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