You wouldn't roast a friend, why roast yourself?

How to stop being your own worst critic

Your brain is a master storyteller. But it's wearing blinkers.
Dr. David D Burns, in "Feeling Good", identifies several cognitive distortions or mental traps that twist reality. Here are two common ones that might ring familiar:

All-or-Nothing Thinking
“If I’m not perfect, I’m a failure.”
Example: Delivered incorrect numbers → “Can't do anything right.”

Overgeneralisation
“One setback = everything will fail.”
Example: Lose an important client → “My career is over.”

Ever said something like this - or worse - to yourself?
Now imagine it’s a colleague speaking: “Didn’t get the promotion. I’ll never move up here. Might as well resign.”
Would you reply: “I agree. You have zero talent, and everyone knows it”?

No, you would not. 
Not only would it be cruel. 
It’s also most likely untrue. 

As Burns reminds us: “No one is absolutely brilliant or totally stupid.”

You’d say: “This stings, but it’s one opportunity of many. You’ve grown so much already. Let’s talk next steps.”

So why wouldn't you be kind and supportive to yourself?
Try this exercise from Burns’ book when you’re ready to talk back to your brain: Grab a paper. Draw two lines to make three columns 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ 

1️⃣ Self-Criticism: Write down the harsh thought.
“I bombed the presentation. Everyone thinks I’m incompetent...”
2️⃣ Cognitive Distortion: Name the trap.
Overgeneralisation
3️⃣ Self-Defence: Challenge it with facts and write them down.
“I’ve delivered strong presentations before. One off day doesn’t define me...”

Next time, when self-doubt strikes:
Pause.
Ask: “Is this helpful? True? Would I say this to a friend?”
Rewrite the script.

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*Source: Feeling Good | The website of David D. Burns, MD You owe it to yourself to Feel Good!
 

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