How Do I Stop Lying To My Self?

Do you take constructive criticism as a an opportunity to better yourself?

Do you try to convince others that your opinion is always correct?

Do you put things off to a later date/time?

Do you doubt yourself when trying for new things?

Do you ever consider other people's point of view to be correct?

Do you give up rather quickly?

Stop taking constructive criticism as a personal attack. There is a difference between being an overly critical bully and an honest and helpful friend. If someone you consider a friend gives you a bit of honest, somewhat critical advice, you shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss it. The issues we are most unsure about tend to be the issues we get the most defensive and emotional about when confronted with ideas that challenge our opinions.

Stop trying to convince everyone that you’re right. Some people can be swayed on some opinions some of the time. But if you believe something passionately that someone else passionately disagrees with, you are never going to change their mind. They might even resent you for not letting them have their own opinion.

Stop putting things off until tomorrow. If you don’t set out concrete steps for yourself and really narrow down exactly what is going to change and how, tomorrow will be exactly the same as today. Don’t let yourself fall back upon old habits instead of striving for the change you wish to embody.

Quit doubting yourself. Don’t start telling yourself you are too old to try new things; if you live for another decade or more, that’s over a decade that you’ve been telling yourself you’re too old to do them.

It is easy to develop a kind of selective understanding of reality that allows you only to believe what you already suspect to be true. Before you get upset at someone for doing something you wouldn’t have done, stop and try to consider their reasoning. You can even ask them for their side of the story. Chances are, they had a good reason that you simply overlooked.

Sometimes we can be a little quick to admit defeat. Before giving up, stop to consider your options. There may be another way.

Don’t ignore your feelings. If you have to tell yourself you don’t care, chances are, you do. Instead of turning a cold shoulder on a friend or loved one, admit that you are hurt. While you may not change their mind, you may find an unexpected compromise.