Criteria To Evaluate Yourself

The criteria you use to evaluate yourself have a powerful impact on your self-worth and your susceptibility to shame.

If your criteria are based on things such as I am too short, I am not beautiful enough, especially when these qualities have little to do with what you are trying to achieve, you place yourself at risk for unnecessary self-criticism, lowered mood, and suboptimal living.

Choose criteria that are relevant to your goals, values, and the tasks you are engaged in. Ask yourself: Does this criterion help me move toward what matters to me?

When your standards are aligned with your purpose, they become a source of growth rather than shame. In many cases, changing the criteria by which you judge yourself can help lift you out of feelings of inferiority and allow you to recognize your true strengths.