Self-Criticism
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Self-Criticism
There's value in being self-analytical, but if we're not careful self-analysis can become self-criticism.
And though at low levels self-criticism can also help us flag things we might improve-upon, more often it's a crutch that allows us to feel momentarily in control, but in a way that doesn't result in any positive change (we punish ourselves, basically, and that punishment feels like progress, and we then let ourselves off the hook from having to make any actual progress).
Noticing things we might improve and then taking tangible action toward real improvement can be beneficial, then, but noticing such things and then criticizing ourselves for our shortcomings very seldom accomplishes anything worthwhile.
More thoughts on this topic: https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-be-kinder-to-yourself-by-practising-self-compassion
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