Self Esteem vs. Self Compassion
Self esteem seems to be a challenge for us all.
We all struggle with invasive thoughts about our performance in any arena, but the workplace tends to be one that everyone can relate to. Everyone experiences stress about their performance level, quality of work, and even how well-liked they are in the office.
At the end of the day, we all logically know that most of the time, we’re overthinking it. What’s worse is that if these thoughts are pervasive enough, they can begin to actually affect our work and how we interact with others, and it’s usually in a negative way. Stress tends to breed more stress.
So how can we snap out of the low self esteem cycle? Eric Barker shares some insight on how to do just this in his article here. He says it well himself:
Life can be hard. And who is usually hardest on you? Yourself. There’s that negative voice in your head criticizing you. And sometimes you can’t shut it up.
Barker’s approach isn’t necessarily to just boost your self esteem; he thinks that first you have to boost your self compassion, and then the self esteem will come after. Having self compassion means that you aren’t so hard on yourself when you make a mistake. After all, we’re all human and all of us make, and have made, many mistakes in our lifetimes. As Barker says:
Stop lying to yourself that you’re so awesome. Instead, focus on forgiving yourself when you’re not.
Because all of us are awesome in many ways, but none of us are 100% awesome. That’s because we’re human beings. Research has shown that when you have compassion for yourself and forgive yourself when mistakes are made, you’re way more likely to bounce back quicker, because you see yourself as human too.
Image retrieved from Pixabay under the public domain.
Recent Posts
Feel Good Friday: Return
Happy Friday! Think of “return” not just as turning back but a way to move forward--another “turn” in the game of life and thus another opportunity to forge new paths as you proceed. Take all of the experiences you’ve had during these uncertain times and use them to...
What To Do When Planning to Go Back
With the summer in sight, your return to your workplace is likely approaching. This may feel like an abrupt shift, especially after you’ve established new routines that have helped you succeed while working remotely--which is why today we’re focusing on what you can...
Wednesday Wellness: Return
As we move closer to summer, let the return of this sunny season inspire your return to work. Find joy in returning to your regular workplace rhythms while applying the new lessons you’ve learned in adapting to the unprecedented circumstances you’ve experienced. It’s...
Making Your Return to Work Easy
We know that if you’ve been working remotely, or if you’ve been unemployed during these uncertain times, the prospect of returning to an in-person professional environment might seem overwhelming. But don’t panic! We’ve got ways to help you ease into that transition....
Monday Mood Booster: Return
Welcome back! While it’s important to live in the present and be mindful in completing your work, it’s also necessary to think about the future. There will come a time when you’ll need to get back into the normal swing of things; take a moment now to start...
To the Class of 2021: Congratulations and Welcome!
You’ve spent the last several years working hard on your education, taking steps towards your degree, and finally earning the title of “Graduate.” Congratulations! What you’ve just done is a huge accomplishment. You should be enormously proud of yourself and all of...
Monday Mood Booster: Guidance
Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful weekend with plenty of chances to connect with those in your life to whom you turn for guidance. This week, we’ll be focusing on just that: guidance. A helping hand can come from both sources familiar and those you might not...
Resilient In The Workplace And Beyond
Today’s examination of ways to expand on your resiliency takes a holistic approach, considering ways both in and out of the workplace to create a more resilient you. You don’t have to tackle that task alone--and shouldn’t be! Know that within your workplace, you have...
Wednesday Wellness: Resilience
As you practice building up your workplace resilience using the skills we’ve shared, remember that your knowledge and capabilities are growing with every step along the way. While these unprecedented circumstances may feel overwhelming, each and every day you’re...
Monday Mood Booster: Resilience
Welcome back! As we kick off the first full week of May, we’ll be focusing on resilience. Just as flowers survive the cold of winter to bloom again each spring, you have the strength to pull through even the most difficult of times. Let these warmer days reinvigorate...
Feel Good Friday: Community
Congratulations--you’ve successfully made it to the end of another week! And we know that even if it doesn’t feel like it, each day you’ve made a difference in your communities. All of the contributions big and small that you make in your workplace add up to important...
Creating Workplace Community Virtually
Amidst this week’s focus on community, we know that it can feel isolating to work from home, with your teammates located far from you. Today we’re looking at ways to establish a sense of connection with your colleagues and employers while completing your work...
Wednesday Wellness: Community
Welcome back to Wednesday Wellness! Whether already you realize it or not, you are a powerful force for change within your communities. Your presence impacts the lives of others. Though simply being there may not feel like doing much, remember that being an active...
Creating A Better Workplace Community
Our focus this week is on creating a better community, in both your workplace and beyond. While creating change in the world at large is an important task to tackle, today we’re turning inward for our first steps towards creating a better workplace community. Since...