Why are We hard on Ourselves as We grow older

We begin to grow hard on ourselves as we age because of a decline in our physical health, our social circle dwindling down, and the pyschological impact getting older has on us. We begin to be self-critical of things that happen in our lives and take it out on the one person we know better—OURSELVES. 

Being hard on ourselves stems from our upbringing in life, past trauma, and pressure from our societal pressures. It is a misguided coping mechanism. This mechanism drives you to perform daily, prevent any failures, protect yourself from criticism from others, and suffer from burnouts and anxiety.

Common self-criticisms:

Upbringing: Growing up with authority figures, our parents, grandparents, and teachers in school. 

Social and Cultural Pressure: Being brought up in the media and electronic era of life. the unrealistic expectations of how we should look, speak, and reach success in life. 

Misguided Motivation: the harsh ways we push ourselves to be better than others. Why we need to be better than others.

Mental Health Issues: Self-criticism can develop anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression.

How can you be less critical of yourself?

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