Self-criticism goes hand in hand with being a perfectionist, and that brings with it a habit of tearing yourself down, focusing on your flaws, and being unable to see the good things that come with being you.
That little voice is always telling you that you’re not good enough, strong enough, smart enough, or [fill in the blank] enough and after hearing it for so long, it’s hard not to believe it.
But it’s nonsense. You’re a perfectly wonderful human being who is just fine the way you are.
Are you perfect? No. But again, no one is. Are there things you might want to improve about yourself? Sure. There’s always room for self-improvement. But does that mean you’re not good enough? Absolutely not.
You are important, wonderful, and worthy just as you are. There has never been another you and there never will be.
Accepting yourself for who you are is one of the hardest struggles you’ll face in your journey to overcome your perfectionism. It’s imperative that you work on it, however. These three tips will help.
1.) Focus On Your Strengths, Not Your Flaws
There are many good things about you. You’re good at a lot of different things and you have a lot of positive qualities. Focus on these, not your imperfections or your flaws.
When you start to criticize yourself as not being good enough at something, remind yourself of something you’re good at or of something good about yourself.
2.) Use Affirmations
Affirmations work, and they rock! There are thousands of them available.
Pick 3-5 that focus on self-love and acceptance that resonate with you and repeat them to yourself, over and over, every day.
You can repeat them aloud or silently or write them down. When you feel you’ve moved on from those issues, pick some more affirmations and start over.
3.) Get Support
Everyone needs support, and that includes you. Finding support on your journey to self-acceptance is critical. You might not be able to see the good things about yourself right now, but other people can.
Confide in a few close friends and ask them for help through this. Consider joining a support group for recovering perfectionists or others who are struggling with self-acceptance. If your issues run deep, seek the help of a licensed therapist or certified coach who can push you to overcome your limits and grow into the person you’re meant to be.