Our mental health affects how we feel and how we live our lives. We don't have to apologize for mental illness.
It’s probably no surprise to you to hear that perfectionism — ever-unattainable — is bad for your mental health. People who expect perfection are often overly critical of mistakes, which can lead to depression.
I read a 2018 study that showed that choosing to view yourself in a compassionate light dampens the link between perfectionism and depression. Check out this graph:
That dot on the upper right shows that perfectionists who demonstrate low levels of compassion to themselves are high on the depression scale. The dot on the lower right represents perfectionists who show high levels of compassion to themselves: much less depressed.
Even if you’re not a perfectionist (like the people represented by the dots on the left side of the graph), self-compassion makes a difference in your mental health.
Let’s talk about ways to develop more kindness toward yourself. Here are some suggestions summarized from Psychology Today:
If you're having a difficult time forgiving yourself day-to-day, please contact me. I want to help!
You Might Also Enjoy...
Our mental health affects how we feel and how we live our lives. We don't have to apologize for mental illness.
The oft-heard adage is true: Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. With time and help, everyone can feel better.
It’s true that there have always been countless distractions around us, but smart phones have taken that to a new level. A 2016 study showed the effects of continuous interruption on infants.
According to some research, strong religious beliefs coupled with a positive relationship with a higher power are connected to lower levels of disordered eating and body image concern. 
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, isn't about brain wiring--it's how the brain fires. Here's some new info we're learning!
Depression tends to worsen with age. Now, during isolation and COVID-19, it is even more important to help our elderly maintain their mental health.