Dr. Aziz delivers a direct, therapist-style message warning against chronic self-criticism and the pursuit of an ever-moving standard of "better." He notes that success or external achievements do not end the pattern; the cycle continues unless a person consciously decides to stop, treat themselves with respect, accept deservingness of love and belonging, and choose to be on their own side.
My friend, it's time to stop picking at yourself constantly after a conversation like, did I say that right? I didn't do that right when you're at work, I'm not being productive enough. I need to do this. I could be more that, oh, I should be more like that person. Oh, that person's better than I am. And you're constantly torturing yourself by having some expectation that you're supposed to be better than you are. And you might think, oh, no, but Z's, if I really got there, then I'd feel great. I can't tell you how many people I work with who are super successful or they have the relationship or they have the money or they have the career, and then they still don't feel confident because they're torturing themselves with that same freaking pattern. The pattern doesn't end. You get to the next destination and it keeps going. The pattern only stops when you decide, right now, maybe as you're watching this video, to stop once and for all torturing yourself and choose to treat yourself with respect, as if you are worthy of love, of belonging, and ultimately decide to be on your own side no matter what.
