You may judge yourself and others every day without realizing it. Like many members of myRAteam have found, living with rheumatoid arthritis is an exercise in frustrating moments. You may blame yourself when you look in the mirror, when pain and fatigue cause you to cancel plans, or when you falter with a simple task. The problem is when you let these internal judgments shape belief in yourself.

Experts in mindfulness and self-care recommend pausing a moment when you find you're judging yourself. Be aware of those 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 critical of yourself? What are you doing to show yourself kindness in those moments? Share in the comments below or directly on myRAteam.