The link between anxiety and the second layer of judgment feels especially true here. Anxiety on its own is hard enough, but the way people talk to themselves once it shows up often escalates everything. That internal pile-on turns a physical sensation into a full identity problem very fast.
The distinction between self-esteem and self-compassion is useful in practice, not just conceptually. Treating anxiety as something to manage rather than a personal failure changes how the nervous system responds in the moment. The examples of alternate self-talk feel realistic, not overly polished, which makes them easier to imagine using when things are actually activated.
The link between anxiety and the second layer of judgment feels especially true here. Anxiety on its own is hard enough, but the way people talk to themselves once it shows up often escalates everything. That internal pile-on turns a physical sensation into a full identity problem very fast.
The distinction between self-esteem and self-compassion is useful in practice, not just conceptually. Treating anxiety as something to manage rather than a personal failure changes how the nervous system responds in the moment. The examples of alternate self-talk feel realistic, not overly polished, which makes them easier to imagine using when things are actually activated.