How are you feeling today? I’m writing this on a Saturday, which is often the day of the week when introverts are in recovery mode.

It can be a time of sweet relief, but it can also have its downsides. Sometimes unwelcome thoughts creep in.

We think about how we’ve fallen short. We wonder what we could’ve done better.

It’s during these times when it’s crucial to practice self-love. But there’s a problem.

The #1 innie self-love killer

There’s a sneaky self-love killer that gets in the way. I’m all too familiar with this self-love snatcher.

But now that I’m aware of it, I can nip it in the bud as soon as it arises. And to be honest, I’ve had to do a lot of that lately.

As I do standup comedy 2-3 times per week and strive to reach other big transformation goals in my personal life, I find myself in a constant state of vulnerability…and exhaustion.

These are two states that really challenge one’s self-love muscles.

It’s all too easy for me to come home from a show that didn’t go as well as I’d hoped and start to ruminate on ALL my failings—including something from five years ago.

Or when I’m totally exhausted and chores are piling up, it can be tempting to go into slave driver mode and start judging my worth by what I do and produce.

Can you relate?

Do you also judge yourself harshly? You keep score of every miss and dismiss every hit as if it were a fluke. If so, don’t worry, this is a common introvert problem.

But it’s important to be aware that JUDGEMENT is the #1 self-love killer. It’s a very sneaky one because sometimes we think we’re being ‘good’ by judging ourselves.

We imagine the secret to success and love in all its forms is to whip our tired bum bum into shape and earn it. This mindset neglects a crucial Truth.

Receiving success and love into our life is only possible when we believe that we DESERVE it.

Judgment is the energy of self-punishment, which is the opposite of self-love and deserving.

Self-judgment and its close cousins, self-criticism and perfectionism, are huge introvert barriers to self-love.

Unfortunately, judgment has become a default state for many introverts. If that includes you, I know how you feel.

That’s why this week’s blog posts will be devoted to self-love. I’ll share core mindset shifts and concrete practices that will help you release self-judgment and truly love yourself. Click below to read the next article in the self-love series.

Feel Like You’re Not Good Enough? How to Love Yourself Anyway