The Way You Speak to Yourself Matters
Imagine if someone spoke to your best friend the way you sometimes speak to yourself.
“I’m not good enough.”
“I always mess things up.”
“I should be doing better.”
You’d probably remind them that they’re human—that mistakes are part of learning, and one difficult moment doesn’t define who they are.
So why not offer yourself the same kindness?
Self-compassion isn’t about ignoring your flaws or lowering your standards. It’s about recognising that growth happens more easily when we encourage ourselves rather than constantly criticise ourselves.
Your inner critic can be a nasty piece of work, especially if you are trying to move forward with your trauma this PTSD awareness month.
The next time you catch your inner critic taking over, pause and ask yourself:
“What would I say to someone I care about in this situation?”
You might be surprised by how much gentler—and more helpful—that response is.
What’s one kind thing you can say to yourself today?