Don't let it consume you

Self-criticism isn’t innate to us, it’s internalized based on outside influences, such as other people’s criticism, expectations, or standards. It’s a habit that can be unlearned or controlled.

One way to separate yourself from the self-criticism is to give it a name. Doing...

When you start to ground a fear and begin to look at it with your feet firmly planted on the ground then you most often realize that the worst that could happen isn’t really that bad.

...you can also probably start listing and taking action on a few things that will reduce the likelihood of...

• Over one week, observe how you spend your time and energy. Keep note of how many times you say yes, no, or maybe to a request. Notice and record how each request made you feel.
• Identify the times you say no and everything still works out fine. This...