10 Reminders For When Your Inner Critic Starts To Overshadow Your Inner Cheerleader

1. You’re allowed to want to be better than you were yesterday, but you don’t have to tear yourself apart to do it. There is a difference between criticism and cruelty. Berating yourself into betterment is not productive.

2. The words you say to yourself matter, so choose ones rooted in honesty, hope, and love. Just as you are your own critic, you also get to be your own cheerleader.

3. You’re allowed to love yourself, even with your flaws.

4. Other people are allowed to, and will, love you, even with your flaws. You don’t have to hide your shadows to receive love.

5. You’re allowed to be upset or angry or frustrated about something, but please don’t let yourself stay in that space for too long. Recognize it, feel it, learn from it, and then let it go and move on. 

6. It’s okay to forgive yourself, and it’s okay to forgive others, too. It’s okay to release the things you’re holding onto that keep you from letting you soar. Remorse and redemption are beautiful things. 

7. Just because today was terrible doesn’t mean that tomorrow has to be, too. You’re allowed to change your mind, your course, your choices, and the direction in which you’re headed. You’re allowed to change, period. 

8. There will be times when you’ll succeed, and you’ll delight in the glory and glow of your hard work. Bask in that. And then, when you inevitably fail at something, remember that failure is a part of life, and give yourself grace in the process.

9. Shame is not a productive tool for growth. Pay attention to the tools you use to be better.

10. There’s something remarkable about trying something new and giving it all that you have and still failing. For even though the failure stings, and it hurts your heart and breaks your spirit a little bit in the process—you still tried. You still gave it everything that you have. You still put yourself out there, and even though it didn’t work out the way you wanted, you are not left wondering “what if”? Instead, you know. And now you can move forward accordingly.