Do you find it difficult to relax? You work from sunrise to moonlight, exhausted as you collapse in bed, yet finding it difficult to sleep because you are worried about how to tackle tomorrow’s agenda.
When someone pays you a compliment, do you have a hard time accepting it? Your inner critic blocks it by silently reminding you of several things you did earlier in the day that were subpar.
Is it hard to admit when you are wrong? You work so hard to avoid mistakes because to fail is unacceptable, a sure sign you are a unsuited for the job of spouse, parent, or worker.
If you said “yes” to one or more of these questions you probably beat yourself up—a lot. Guess what? You’re not alone. You belong to a huge tribe of secret self-punishers.
Beating yourself up sounds extreme doesn’t it. That’s because it is. Look, we all make mistakes or have habits we want to break. It’s “our stuff”. Owning it is important. However, there are more respectful and effective ways to go about it.
You can own your stuff without beating yourself up by making 5 clever decisions
Get to the root of the problem – your faulty belief system
Your main problem is not your stuff–it’s how you think about your stuff. If you’re beating yourself up regularly then it is very likely you have some rigid standards about performance. In other words, you operate by a high bar. High bar people have to be perfect, can’t make mistakes, and if they do, others are not permitted to see them.
To avoid a beating of the self, some people use denial and blame to deal with “stuff”. When that doesn’t work, one is forced to accept responsibility. The underlying belief system doles out the punishment. Let the beatings begin.
If you want to do a better job owning your stuff, it begins by getting to the root of the problem–identifying your faulty belief system. Here are some examples.
“I have to be perfect. I cannot make mistakes. I cannot show weakness.” This is a faulty belief system.
“If I make mistakes or do something wrong it is unacceptable and I deserve to be punished.” This too is a faulty belief system.
If you want to own your stuff without beating yourself up, you have to change your faulty belief system.
Take an honest look at the impact of your faulty belief system
How do you look after you beat yourself up? Look at the emotional bruises. Some people actually punish themselves physically with cuts and bruises. What is the status of your self-esteem? If you feel worse, feel ashamed, depressed, or think only negatively, you have done great harm to yourself.
Think honestly about your relationships. How are they impacted by your faulty belief system? Are you extremely defensive? Are you rigid in your thinking? Do people have to walk on eggshells around you? Do you have intense battles because you resist owning your stuff?
If your faulty belief system is causing you and those you care about harm, then it is time you do something about it. Again, the main problem is not your stuff. It’s how you think about your stuff.
Your main problem is not your stuff–it’s how you think about your stuff.
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Introduce yourself to a new way of looking at your stuff
It’s time to change your faulty belief system. Easier said than done. I know, I understand. However, it’s time to make some introductions to a modified belief system. Relationships begin with an introduction. Repeated encounters develop a stronger relationship.
You currently have a relationship with The Constant Criti...
