Go Friend Your Self!

Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.  
~Malcolm S. Forbes

Do the following beliefs sound familiar?

• I need to be critical of myself rather than support and accept myself otherwise I won’t reach my goals or grow.
• I must be in control and do things perfectly.
• I need to focus on how far I have yet to go rather than how far I’ve come if I want to succeed.

Whether you have these types of thoughts occasionally or they have become mottos and mantras in your life, you are absolutely not alone.

You might be consistently hard on yourself or bounce back and forth between confidence and self-criticism.

We are all susceptible to this kind of thinking.

When we feel challenged or stressed we might reach for control or perfectionism as a way to cope. This is often accompanied by self-criticism, stress and more pressure. Staying busy and being tough on our self can escalate from a coping strategy to a habit and way of life. We may feel uncomfortable, nervous, or ashamed if we slow down.

You are what you think.

We have 1000s of thoughts a day and so often they are the same thoughts on repeat, like a broken record. They can easily become harsh, critical or negative. The way we think about our self, talk to our self and treat our self can have a powerful effect on your life, for better or worse. If we think things are possible then we try. If we think highly of ourselves then we treat ourselves well and build relationships with others who treat us well also.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Strengthen your connection with your self and you can strengthen your connection with:

• the kind of life you want to live,
• your goals and dreams, and
• the people you care about most.
  

I invite you to consider these questions:

• What if you were your greatest support instead of worst critic?
  
• What if you were as kind, understanding and forgiving of your self as you are with your loved ones?
• What if you were your own best friend instead of worst enemy when things are tough? How might your life be different? What would you attempt?

 
It is possible to change your relationship with your self. You can grow, succeed and connect with those important to you while being supportive and kind toward yourself.
 
I am excited to share information and inspiration with you!

Go Friend Your Self!
with Dr. Baker

An invitation for you:
 
1. Think of the one person you are closest to.
2. Think about a current stressor or challenge in your own life.
3. What would you tell the person you thought of in #1 if they were facing this issue?
4. Practice saying this to yourself when you think about it this week.
5. Feel free to share your experience with the community in the comments section.