Self-improvement is a constant in many lives where as self-deprecation is even more common! But sadly most title them the same thing. It feels good to think you are critiquing and fixing something. This becomes habitual and mentally lazy when we do not examine the reasons and emotions behind our critique. The goals and premise of such critique need be known the same as everything else we do! Otherwise you’re up shit-creek without a paddle, heading for the falls, singing come oh ye faithful. Yet all the brain jabber you’re making is how to row faster and why can’t you seem to do this better? Take into account the nature of your critique.
It feels good and important to attack yourself because we live in a society where people attack others to make themselves feel better and bigger. Peer review is great for editing articles but in lazy small talk and casual herd behavior it’s only a rearranging or the pecking order. Nobody’s dick is actually bigger, they’re just spouting nonsense.
Bombarded are our sense, tantalized to complete nervous edge both psychologically and chemically by advertising. And every iota of it telling you about something better than you have or instilling a sense of lack within you. Makes you a good shopper is you have all that need and want. Yet you stand fine, perfect without that great new lipstick or Nikes. However the nature of this socializing is to make you think you are not good enough. The longer you hear something the more you start to speak in that language. And check your thought’s roll call, and tell me its not there too.
Being critical of yourself is not a bad thing but the critique can often be a knee-jerk reaction instead of one with any reason behind it. Look directly at that emotion and find the point where improvement provides happiness. Without that discovery, you are attacking yourself aimlessly. Tell that emotion to leave.