Kindly Stop Holding It All Together
Be kind to yourself.
A critical mindset has long been our silent, albeit superior partner. It’s often the master of ceremonies that keeps us in line and drives us to succeed. Self-compassion is considered suspicious, selfish, and too self-focused to have real benefits. Yet when we meet challenges with compassion, the brain responds in a way that keeps the body and mind calm. Engaging in compassion helps us to be more equipped to deal with problems and crises as they arise.
Peace resides in acceptance.
A few years ago, my mother scrawled this message in pink lipstick on her bathroom mirror.
This message gave my mother hope at a time when she was trying to hold it all together. Mom grew up in a tumultuous home that valued criticism as part of a formula for success. Mom felt most comfortable with the judgy voice of her critical mindset keeping her in line.
This judgmental undertone of a critical mindset is a form of traumatic stress. It shoves its way into thoughts and conversations, making us feel small.
The critical mindset steals our confidence and causes us to question every move. This reaction to rejection and disappointment overworks our adrenals and overstimulates cortisol. It keeps our body on alert and zaps us of vitality…
