Like many people, I am my own worst critic. I know that it isn’t healthy and that I should be kinder to myself and realize that I am trying my best. It’s good to be a little bit self-critical because there’s always room for improvement and it’s helpful to take responsibility instead of always blaming other people…but I definitely let it affect my confidence and make me sad. This year I’m going to try to be kinder to myself and be aware of negative self-talk.
I came up with a few related action items once I chose my word of the year:
1. Notice when I say “I should have” or “I wish I…” or something self-critical.
2. Write down when I think of something overly critical.
3. Be kinder to myself.
Here’s How to Choose Your Word of the Year:
1. Reflect on the main themes from the previous year: How did you feel? What did you learn? What were some strengths and weaknesses?
2. Write down four or five words that you want to work on throughout the year.
3. Choose one word from the list.
4. Find a few action items you can focus on.
5. Think about that word (and act on it!) throughout the year.
