The memory could not be written.
- 10 Nov, 2025 *
It is easy to criticize others. There is no cost, no backfire (most of the time), and it is comfortable to do so.
The hard part is to criticize ourselves. Since the Axial Age, philosophy around the world has held that it is good to be strict with oneself and lenient toward others. But look around us, how many of us have truly achieved this principle in life?
The hardest part was finding the balance between self-criticism and avoiding excessive self-pity. I found this the most challenging. It was either “fuck everyone” or “I’m a piece of shit”. I longed to seek help from my friends or wise c…
The memory could not be written.
- 10 Nov, 2025 *
It is easy to criticize others. There is no cost, no backfire (most of the time), and it is comfortable to do so.
The hard part is to criticize ourselves. Since the Axial Age, philosophy around the world has held that it is good to be strict with oneself and lenient toward others. But look around us, how many of us have truly achieved this principle in life?
The hardest part was finding the balance between self-criticism and avoiding excessive self-pity. I found this the most challenging. It was either “fuck everyone” or “I’m a piece of shit”. I longed to seek help from my friends or wise counsel to solve this problem. Fortunately, I eventually found a way.
The answer was quite simple. It was just to tell myself that I’m neither as bad as others criticize me for nor as good as others praise me for. Convincing myself of this isn’t easy because I always find my own shortcomings and strengths in people. It took a long time to find as many strengths as shortcomings in myself.
Self-criticism is a fundamental tool to “know thyself”. I always think of it as a maxim.
Day 25.