Saying no without a guilty conscience
Many say yes out of fear, of seeming unpopular, of looking selfish, of disappointing someone. The price is high: an overfull calendar, quiet anger, exhaustion. A clear no is often the most honest thing, and the most caring toward yourself.A no is a yes to something elseEvery yes costs time…
The inner critic: spotting it and taking its edge off
“You’ll never manage that.” “Typical you.” Almost everyone knows this inner voice that comments, compares, devalues. It feels like the truth, yet it is a thought. And thoughts can be noticed, instead of blindly followed.Why it exists at allThe inner critic is often an old protection program: whoever controls themselves…
Self-compassion: kind to yourself, especially when it’s hard
Many believe they have to be hard on themselves to get ahead. Research shows the opposite: whoever berates themselves after mistakes grows more anxious and gives up sooner. Kindness to yourself is the more resilient basis for change.What self-compassion really isThe psychologist Kristin Neff describes three building blocks that interlock:The…