While it’s admirable to want to do better, it’s important to understand your limitations and learn to cope with personal failure. It’s good to admit to yourself, “I fucked up. I need to do better next time.” However, it only does harm to say, “I fucked up because I’m a pathetic loser who never does anything right.”

What’s the difference? One idea is full of love, the other is full of hate and fear. When you love yourself, that love spills over into other areas of your life and makes you an asset to your community. Likewise, when you hate yourself, that hate spills over and turns you into a curse on the people around you.

When is the last time you failed? Did you beat yourself up for it? If so, did the punishment make it any easier to try again?