Self-improvement is a positive thing. But often, it’s motivated by self-loathing, and that can get in the way of lasting change. Approach your growth with a more optimistic mindset.
When your desire to change comes from an pessimistic place, you might be more likely to create roadblocks for yourself. Zen Habits explains:
I know what many people will immediately say: “But what’s wrong with wanting to improve, with seeing things that need to be improved? Doesn’t feeling bad about ourselves motivate us to change?” Yes, it can be a motivator. But feeling bad about yourself can also be an obstacle: people who feel that they are fat, for example, are more likely to eat poorly and not exercise, because they see themselves as fat. They are likely to feel bad about themselves and to comfort themselves with food, alcohol, cigarettes, TV, Internet addictions.
The question they ask is: does your change come from a place of self-loathing, or does it come from a place of acceptance? They go on to explain that acceptance doesn’t mean stagnation. Many times, accepting who you are can actually help you to change, because you know what you’re working with, instead of being in denial and working against yourself.
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STORY:http://lifehacker.com/you-dont-have-to-dislike-yourself-to-motivate-change-1683152654