Maybe self-criticism isn’t the problem, but rather how we react to the criticism that is the problem.

The inner critic isn’t an enemy.

Viewing yourself from the spirit’s perspective allows you to be detached from the drama in your mind. Then, you will realize your current self-perception is none other than a mental image created by your mind.

Emptiness is a scary place for the mind. It loses power when it is emptied.

Most of us have an inner parent that doesn’t take care of the inner child’s needs properly. They are more focused on the needs of the ego, such as pleasing other people in order to feel needed, or achieving success and getting recognition from others. This makes the inner parent happy for a short period of time, but it doesn’t last. There is always a feeling of not being fulfilled, no matter how much you achieve, because the inner child’s needs are not being met.

We established most of our self-beliefs during our childhood, but they were based on our limited understanding of the world around us. They are either flawed or have become outdated. We can’t take these beliefs at face value anymore.

We are constantly looking to others for love, support, and happiness, not realizing that the best person to meet our emotional needs lies within us.

I began to understand that I could not depend on them to provide me with affirmation and approval. To improve my relationship with my parents, I needed to change. I needed to give myself permission and approval to do what I wanted to do. If my parents couldn’t love me the way I wanted them to love me, then I would have to learn how to love myself.

The truth is everything is impermanent. Nothing stays the same. Flowers wither. Our bodies grow old. Even our thoughts and emotions seem to dissolve over time. When we have a fixed concept of self, we lose ourselves in the past and don’t allow ourselves to just be who we are in the present.