You’re doing that thing again, aren’t you?

You’re doing that thing again, aren’t you? 

You made a simple mistake, a mistake so innocuous if someone else did it you would brush it off. But you, no, you are the exception. You don’t get to make mistakes. You have to be perfect. So the story you’re telling yourself is that you made a mistake and therefore you’re a failure. When does the rumination end? When will you learn? 

That narrative you’re spinning is not true though. You know that right? It’s a simple mistake.

Deep down, you know that, but for some reason you cannot let yourself off the hook for all the self-loathing and shame. 

Where do you think that’s coming from? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself who told you you could never make a mistake? Have you ever thought back to the first time you felt that way? I know it feels like forever, but there actually was a time when you didn’t think that way about yourself. There was a time when you thought you could do or be anything. 

What if you took some time to not only consider the above, but to interject the same amount of grace and compassion you give to everyone else in your life. Stop the rumination. Would you allow a person in your life to speak to you the way you speak to yourself? If you knew about it, would you allow a dear friend to speak about themselves in the way you’re talking about yourself?