Be Kind to Yourself
There is a thought process that happens when we start something new or try to improve ourselves - at least it happens with me. I get this idea in my head that any steps in the wrong direction are failure. I look back at the week I had planned for myself and see only my mistakes. I see the places at work where I spoke too much in that meeting when I just should have listened. I see the nights when I watched The Great British Baking Show instead of reading a book like I had planned. Or the times I read that cheesy young adult fantasy novel (for the fourth time) instead of that business book. If I assume that every single step I take must be in service of my goals, then I did fail. But fortunately for us, that's not how growth works.
Growth (or decline - if you're trying to lose weight or quit a bad habit), doesn't happen in a straight line. There is an expectation in statistical data that there will be dots all over the place. Take a look at any of the COVID charts from over the past year and you'll know exactly what I mean. One really high day, or one really low day, is not what matters. It's all about the trend. Once we realize this, it is a lot easier to be kind to ourselves. When we know that those low dots are not a failure, but rather completely normal and even necessary, then we can stop beating ourselves up for them. Instead, we can look at the bright spots and celebrate.
Expect to have a down day, or week, or even month. Just don't let it become a downward trend. Forget about how low you went last week, and focus on how high you can go this week. Find the bright spots, and just try to make them a little brighter.
Take a look back on the week you have had. What did you do that is worth celebrating? Where are the high points? Focus on those and be proud of them. No matter how small. Sometimes a "win" is just getting out of bed in the morning. Or showing up for work. Spending 5 minutes on your resume. Going for a walk around the block. Forget about the stuff you didn't do. Forget the "should haves" or the "could haves." This is a brand new week and a new chance to see how bright you can get.
