Don't Put Yourself Down
It's sad, but true: A good percentage of us engage in the negative habit of putting ourselves down and/or being overly self-critical. We'll say (or think) things like “I'm too fat,” “I'm not good,” or “I never do anything right.” Do you ever engage in this unnecessary, yet all-too-common tendency?
The problem with putting yourself down is that, no matter how wonderful you actually are or how many positive qualities you have, you'll always find verification of that which you're looking for. In other words, there is a tendency, in all of us, to find that which we assume to be true, regardless of what that assumption happens to be, because if you focus on those last five pounds you can't seem to lose, you'll always notice them as you examine your waistline; you won't admire and appreciate the fact, overall, you're in excellent health.
Whatever issues you are working on, and whatever it is that you would like to improve about yourself, know that one of the worst things you can do is to berate yourself with self-criticism. Go ahead and try to improve, acknowledge your weaknesses, do whatever you can to make a change - but be easy on yourself. Don't put yourself down in front of others or even in the privacy of your own thoughts. None of us is ever going to be perfect, but putting yourself down is not the remedy to this fact of life.
Excerpt from "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff With Your Family"