"I was tired of hearing my harshest critic, the little voice in my head, so I became more kind to myself." -Member of MyHemophiliaTeam

You may judge yourself and others every day without realizing it. Like many members of MyHemophiliaTeam living with a bleeding disorder, you may judge yourself when you look in the mirror when you choose not to take part in an activity or falter with an everyday task due to joint pain. The problem is when you let these internal judgments shape belief in yourself.

Here are recent conversations from members on MyHemophiliaTeam:

"I'm recovering from abdominal surgery and working to regain my strength. Better days ahead---just one day at a time."

"First day without a headache in 4 long days. Really makes a difference! I finally had to break down and take stronger medication. It's a shame meds are necessary to function."

"One of my favorite quotes is... “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light.” - Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter) Stay strong my friends."

Experts in mindfulness and self-care recommend pausing a moment when you find you're judging yourself. Be aware of these judgments. Ask yourself where this is coming from. Use the moment to be gentle and compassionate with yourself.

Do you recall a time when you were particularly harsh or critical of yourself? What are you doing to show yourself more kindness in those moments? Share that moment in the comments below or directly on MyHemophiliaTeam.