Love is one of those facets of life that touches us all. We celebrate that life with expressions of love explicitly tailored to the ones who are closest to us—our friends, our family, and even our pets. But while love is undoubtedly a wonderful thing to express outwardly, we often neglect to express that same love to ourselves.
As writers, we can be our own worst critics. We neglect our own needs to pursue our dreams, often at the expense of our own well-being. If left unchecked, these negative mindsets can not only hinder your productivity but they can also plunge you into a destructive cycle of anxiety and self-doubt.
The best way to counter this is to love yourself well.
Four Ways To Love Yourself Well:
Don’t Judge Yourself
We often struggle with being overly critical of our work. We’re quick to neglect our accomplishments, and we focus on where we don’t measure up. And while it’s essential to improve our craft, we ought to also be able to celebrate our progress along the way. No matter how small.
Be kind to yourself. Avoid judging yourself too harshly and focus on how far you’ve already come instead of worrying about how far you have yet to go. Embrace the writing process without letting self-doubt and inner criticism hold you back from striving toward your creative goals.
Don’t Chase Perfection
As creatives, our greatest fear is often centered around the idea that we’ll never be good enough to achieve measurable success. It drives us to chase after the need to be perfect in everything we do. However, such a mindset is grounded in the misbelief that such a standard of perfection can actually be attained.
Instead of adopting this imbalanced mindset, recognize the old adage that nobody’s perfect. Don’t stifle your creative flow by allowing yourself to become obsessed with some standard of perfection that doesn’t exist. Instead, stay focused on your progress and embrace your imperfections by using them as opportunities to learn and grow as a writer.
Avoid Comparison
As writers, we’re inevitably tempted to compare ourselves with others who have already achieved some measure of success. This has become easier, thanks to social media and its ability to keep us updated on the achievements of other writers. And while it seems like every post is another stab at our inability to measure up, it’s important to remember that we only see the highlights of that person’s journey. Highlights that fail to show us all the years of hard work it took for that person to achieve their level of success.
When you compare yourself to others, you always lose. You set yourself up for failure before you even begin. Avoid the comparison game by reminding yourself that everyone’s experience as a writer is different.
Practice Self-kindness
It’s easier to be kind to others than to yourself, especially when you choose to focus on the negative. But if you weigh the good with the bad, you’ll develop a more balanced attitude that will help you as you continue to strive toward your goals.
Be intentional about finding ways to put a positive spin on things. Give yourself a break, especially when you’re in the middle of a difficult season. Learn to treat yourself with the same kindness you’d extend to a good friend or colleague. Look for creative ways to encourage yourself in the middle of your struggle, using every setback as an opportunity to grow as a writer.
Summing it up
Learning to love yourself well involves being intentionally kind to yourself. By maintaining the right approach and attitude, you can avoid the negative mindsets that can stifle your creative flow, allowing you to thrive even in difficult seasons.
Remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Look for opportunities to learn and grow as you celebrate every small accomplishment. Stay the course. Love yourself and encourage yourself. And above all, keep writing!
Until next time,
