“If babies held the same tendency toward self-criticism as adults, they might never learn to walk or talk. Can you imagine infants stomping, “Aarggh! Screwed up again!” Fortunately, babies are free of self-criticism. They just keep practising.”
“So be gentle with yourself; show yourself the same kindness and patience you might show a young child–the child you once were. If you won’t be your own friend, who will be? If, when playing an opponent, you are also opposing yourself, you will be outnumbered… You probably would find it cruel and unnecessary to say to someone, “You are really stupid; you keep making the same mistakes; you should give up; you’ll never be any good!” Yet we think it’s okay to say the same things to ourselves.”
~Dan Millman from Body Mind Mastery
Guru Soul 