The quality of the relationships we have with others begins with the relationship that we have and continue to cultivate with ourselves. In Western culture, the inner critic in most people runs rampant, and our internal dialogues are often downright mean, if not abusive. Rather than talk to ourselves in loving, supportive and compassionate ways, we often focus on our faults, the places that we "failed" and all that is "wrong" with us, believing that this forceful language will motivate us to up-level our experience, accomplish more and live a "better" life. But all this unkind self-talk really does is put us into a perpetual shame cycle, negatively affecting how we feel about ourselves and how we relate to the people and world around us.
