Have you ever found yourself going through old photos,
Posts or videos and get embarrassed?
Can you think of a situation in the past and cringe at the thought of how you handled it?
Most of us can.
And today we're going to look at where these feelings come from and why they're a sign of personal growth.
With the advent of social media networks and instant access to recorded memories,
We've lost the ability to frame our past experiences subjectively.
Older generations used to be able to sit down and laugh about the good old times,
When they were younger,
Without being reminded of every single childish thing they did.
We,
On the other hand,
Have objective evidence of all of our immature phases from the moment we engage with social media,
And it can be a source of endless cringe.
Experts believe that feeling embarrassed when confronted with your former self is connected to the idea of vulnerability.
We'd like to project our ideal image into the world,
And whenever we encounter something that doesn't live up to it,
We feel like we're opening ourselves up to being mocked and judged.
Consider the amount of life experience you've accumulated since you left the most embarrassing phase.
You've loved,
Learned,
Lost and progressed through life,
Learning how to accept and appreciate yourself for who you are.
Reflection on our old selves can be seen as a reward.
You're witnessing the progress you've made over the years first hand,
And you should be proud.
However,
This quick exercise isn't about putting your teenage self down.
Instead,
It's about self-compassion.
I'd like you to look at the cringiest photo from your past and think about that person.
I want you to remember what their greatest insecurities were at the time,
And address them.
Tell them what you wish you knew back then,
And how much you appreciate them.
You might find there's nothing to be ashamed of.
