"Les plus grandes loupes du monde sont les propres yeux d'un homme lorsqu'ils regardent sa propre personne"

When you think about it, we really are our own worst critics. The quote is essentially saying that our own eyes—the way we see ourselves—can amplify our flaws and imperfections way more than anyone else ever would. It’s like we’ve got these imaginary magnifying glasses that we whip out every time we look at ourselves. And it’s not just about physical appearance; it goes deeper into our actions, our abilities, and our worth.

This idea isn’t new. It’s been floating around for ages, probably because it’s so universally true. Historically, people have always been obsessed with self-perception. Think about ancient societies and their obsession with honor and reputation. Even in modern times, social media amplifies this feeling, making it easier than ever to fall into the trap of self-criticism.

Let’s take a real-life example: public speaking. Imagine you’ve just given a presentation at work. You're probably hyper-aware of every tiny mistake you made—the slip of the tongue, the piece of spinach stuck in your teeth, or that one slide that didn’t transition smoothly. You see these things as monumental failures. But guess what? Your audience likely didn’t notice half of them. They saw the bigger picture: your confident delivery, your well-researched points, and your ability to engage the room. Your own eyes—those pesky magnifying glasses—zoomed in on the negatives, making them seem larger than life.

So, how do you apply this wisdom? First off, cut yourself some slack. Seriously. When you catch yourself diving deep into self-criticism, try to step back and view the situation as an outsider. Ask yourself how a friend would see it. Would they zoom in on the same things you’re obsessing over? Probably not. They’d likely see your strengths and successes. Another trick is to write down the positives. It sounds cheesy, but putting pen to paper can help shift your focus from what went wrong to what went right.

Let me share a relatable story. Picture this: Jenna, a graphic designer, just finished a massive project. She worked hard, but she keeps fixating on the one color choice she thinks might be off. She feels like it ruins the whole design. She’s in a funk, convinced she’s failed. Then she shows the project to her client. The client loves it, doesn’t even mention the color Jenna was worried about, and instead raves about the overall creativity and impact of the design. Jenna’s perspective was clouded by her own magnifying glass, totally out of proportion with reality.

So next time you’re nitpicking yourself to death, remember Jenna. Think about how much you might be blowing things out of proportion. Take a step back, ask for someone else’s perspective, and don’t be so hard on yourself. We all have those imaginary magnifying glasses—we just need to learn when to put them down.