Quiet as it’s kept, we are our own worst critics! We fail to recognize that, we critique ourselves in so many ways that our entire world exists within a bubble we created for ourselves. Some of us hold ourselves to a high standard of perfection and when that standard fails to be met we replay the same words over and over again in our mind. Words like, “I’m not good enough”, “How could I be so dumb” “I never get it right” – which ultimately tear us down and make us believe lies that strip us of our self-worth and sabotage our progress and hinder our growth.

When we unrealistically self-imposed high expectations it causes us to turn on ourselves with nasty, self-deprecating words, it is then that we become our very own worst critics.

Constructive criticism aids in learning, training, and development, but when it’s not use to accomplish these things it becomes a malicious act of judging unfavorably or excessive faultfinding.

God loves people and wants the best for them and yes, He points out faults, shortcomings, and sins that help to build us up not tear us down.

Please hear me, our speech to ourselves and others should be always edifying. First Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another.” Hebrews 10:24 says, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” And Galatians 6:1 gives the primary motivation for criticizing—with a warning: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”

When we self appraise and/or give an appraisal about someone else, make sure that it’s grounded out/in of love! Ephesians 4:15 says, “Speak the truth in love!” It doesn’t matter if you are critique yourself or someone else, Godly criticism is always true and more importantly, loving. It comes from a humble, caring heart that desires positive change! It is not bitter, condescending, insulting, or cold-hearted.

Therefore, my word of encouragement is to stop beating yourself up! I am all too familiar with the condemnatory spirit of perfectionism and how it sucks the life out of us and those around us.

Fact remains, we are all imperfect in some way or another and we must learn to embrace and grow from our imperfections so that in turn we can be gentle and empathetic with ourselves and others.

I got good news for you, God knows that perfect people do not exist. We all fail (Romans 3:23), but God’s love for us is bigger than our failures and shortcomings. God loves imperfect people and we will never be consider a depreciating asset! God’s love for His children is unconditional, wholehearted and incessant. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more and there is nothing we can do to make God love you less.

At the end of the day, we can’t escaped accountability, but we must be cognizant of how to manage self-accountability! We must be mindful of our language because language is very powerful. It’s a declaration to what is true.

So,monitor and be mindful how you are talking to yourself because you are listening. If you don’t want to feel a certain way, all you have to do is remember what God says about you and stop listening to what you are saying about you!

#BeStrong