When You Should NOT Beat Yourself Up

Yesterday I wrote about when you should beat yourself up. You can read that here.

Have you ever tried to start a new habit, develop a healthier routine, or learn a new skill? It’s pretty fun at the beginning. There’s a very real possibility of finally making a positive change in your life.

But after a week or 2, the enthusiasm of starting your new thing dies off. Then it just becomes another thing you have to work at.

Fitness jumps out to me as a good example.

When you start a new fitness program (on a Monday because all new fitness programs have to start on Monday), you’re full of energy, confidence, and determination. You hit the gym like you own the place. You high-five everyone. You sweat and exhaust yourself but you hardly notice because you’re so excited about your new fitness routine.

You don’t skip a workout for a week or 2 or even 3!

Then the notorious day rolls around…you know the day. The day when you’re too tired, too hungry, too irritable, and a new season of whatever is on Netflix. You skip the workout. You might go back again once or twice out of guilt, but after that you’re done. You’ve given up.

What’s the point of going back? You weren’t perfect.

I believe the main reason people quit new things is because they beat themselves up too much when they stumble a little. They expect perfection after only a couple weeks of trying.

We’re so impatient.

Do NOT Beat Yourself Up… #

When you’re starting something new. Give yourself permission to stumble, but not give up entirely. Remember, you don’t yet have the proper resources to see this new thing through. You have to develop them (this is different than when you should beat yourself up).

The most powerful thing you can do when you start something new is to just go ahead and accept that you’re going to skip out and stumble a few times.

Don’t expect perfection.

Accept it for what it is – you’re just a baby trying to take a few first steps.