Letting Go of Harsh Self-Judgments: The Eight Steps to Change. Step 1.

We speak often about the perils of negative self-talk and the importance of living a lifestyle of radical acceptance. When you step back and simply view your feelings for what they are without critical self-judgement, you open a world of possibility for yourself. That world is one in which you have the freedom to create the positive momentum that gives The Snowball Effect its name. How can you free yourself from the negativity that produces self-fulfilling prophecies and lack of progress? Baby steps.

Over the next 8 weeks, we’re going to look at 8 steps to take for letting go of harsh self-judgments and living a life of self-compassion. You may have to spend more time on some of these steps than others, and that’s ok! You will be successful in changing your attitude, especially if you keep in mind that success doesn’t always look like an inclined plane. It looks more like a staircase with two steps up, one step back, two steps up, one step back. If you do not stop climbing when you take a step back, you will get to where you are going.

Without further ado, here’s step one.

1. Acknowledging what you want to change.

Begin by acknowledging something you want to change. You can’t change anything until you know what it is that you want to change. So by acknowledging that you want to treat yourself better, you have already taken the first step in the change process.

Perhaps this is where you are right now. If so, congratulations! I believe that this first step of acknowledgment is the most transformative step of all as it takes a surprising amount of courage to ‘admit you have a problem.’

Is there a specific area of your life like career, health, or family, where you tend to beat yourself up the most? Focus on that. Acknowledge, without judgement, that it’s time for a change.

Next week we’ll conquer Step 2: Becoming deeply aware.

Have a fantastic weekend!- Kristin