Does this sound familiar?

One week until Xmas, and here is some something to think about.

Doses this sound familiar: I'm my own worst critic"?

When I look at my life, I've spent a crazy amount of time beating myself up. Sometimes it's not too bad - I'm simply challenging myself to do better next time.  But other times I'm much harsher with myself. 

Why does this happen, there are many reasons for this, one is I listen to the voices in my head that I heard as I grew up. Voices that I internalised over the years and even if I think I have banished them, they come back to haunt me.

Another reason is that I may hold myself to an impossibly high standard. Maybe it's because I occasionally feel nervous about writing this blog, every day.  That's when I catch myself saying:

"Who am I to be giving suggestions or advice? My life isn't perfect."

“Will anyone bother to read what I have written or care what I have said?”

I'm guessing I'm not the only one who beats himself up from time to time.

So, let's all agree that we're allowed to make mistakes.  We're allowed to not have it all figured out and we're allowed to be less than perfect.  I won't judge you and you won't judge me and together we'll agree to give ourselves a break and show ourselves some forgiveness, love and kindness. 

I can do this because I am in the final phase of my life, and I realise that life is great and I have to take life as it happens.  And for the rest of you isn't giving ourselves the gift of forgiveness a wonderful Xmas present?