The unexpected reason to go easy on yourself

INC. THIS MORNING The unexpected reason to go easy on yourself Good morning, Consider these two perspectives: "When I make a mistake or perform poorly, I'm my own worst critic. I'm better than that." "When I make a mistake or perform poorly, I go easy on myself. Nobody's perfect." Over the long term, which mindset do you think leads to higher levels of achievement? Recently, an Inc. columnist posed that question on LinkedIn, and the vast majority of respondents chose the first option. Maybe that’s unsurprising: No self-respecting, hard-charging, success-oriented person would ever want to accept anything less than excellence. Or not. According to a study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, treating yourself with self-compassion--seeing weaknesses, failures, and mistakes as a natural part of life--can better motivate you to improve performance. It feels counterintuitive, yet it’s true. Even better: There’s a surprisingly clear explanation for why it works, and how to embrace it guilt-free. Read our column to learn why you should start going a little easier on yourself, especially if you want to get ahead. HERE'S WHAT ELSE I'M READING TODAY: Amid frigid temperatures, no power, and a pandemic, businesses are rallying to feed hungry Texans. --Inc. Small businesses are still struggling to develop effective diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. These three tips could help. --Inc. Impossible Sensing, a St. Louis-based startup, is helping NASA’s rover find life on Mars. --St. Louis Public Radio These five home-office design mistakes are particularly egregious. Here’s how to avoid them. --The Wall Street Journal Instagram has become a surprisingly profitable storefront for e-commerce brands. Use these strategies to take advantage of the trend. --Inc. ONE MORE THING: Running a business can feel overwhelming. Here’s how to reclaim your time and energy, so you can enjoy your job again. --Inc.   --Cameron Albert-Deitch Reporter, Inc. How are we doing? Send me ideas and feedback at calbertdeitch@inc.com, and sign up for daily text messages from me. Become an Inc. Unlimited subscriber. Click here to forward to a friend. This email was sent by: Mansueto Ventures 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor New York, NY, 10007, Unsubscribe • Update Profile • View in Browser • Privacy Policy