You demand too much of yourself – Rafael Santandreu

We demand too much of ourselves, we live in a culture of Super Demands.

Self-demand is an issue that affects many people in today’s society. We live in a culture of over-demanding, where we constantly push ourselves to reach unrealistic standards of perfection and success. In this article, we will explore why we demand too much of ourselves and how this can negatively affect our mental and emotional health. In addition, we will learn from Rafael Santandreu’s valuable teachings on self-demand and how to overcome it.

The Culture of Superequirements

In a world driven by the pursuit of perfection and success, it is easy to fall into the trap of super demands. We feel that everything must be perfect, that we deserve to be treated impeccably by others, and that any mistakes or imperfections are unacceptable. These super demands are fueled by automatic and repetitive thoughts that, over time, become irrational beliefs.

Irrational Beliefs: Sabotaging the Mind

One of the most insidious aspects of self-demand is that we are often unaware of our own thoughts and beliefs. We assume that our over-demands are valid without questioning where they come from or what their purpose is. These demanding thoughts can lead to a life marked by constant stress and frustration.

Rafael Santandreu teaches us the importance of questioning our irrational thoughts and beliefs. Perfection is an unattainable ideal, and pursuing it can lead to a constant feeling of dissatisfaction. When we demand too much of ourselves, we do not accept things as they are and, more importantly, we do not accept ourselves as we are.

The Frustration of Hyperstress

Rafael Santandreu argues that a hyper-demanding person is a frustrated person. The endless pursuit of perfection leads to perpetual dissatisfaction, as a level of “sufficiency” is never reached. This feeling of dissatisfaction can negatively affect a person’s mental and emotional health, as well as their interpersonal relationships.

When we demand too much of ourselves, we tend to be critical and hard on ourselves. We judge ourselves severely for any mistake or imperfection, which can generate low self-esteem and a feeling of not being good enough. In addition, this self-demanding can lead to procrastination, as the fear of failure paralyzes us and prevents us from moving forward.

Breaking the Cycle of Self-Demanding

So how can we break the cycle of self-demand and live a fuller, more satisfying life? Rafael Santandreu offers us a way forward:

1. Be aware of your thoughts: The first step is to become aware of the self-demanding thoughts that sabotage you. Identifying these thoughts is the first step toward change.

2. Question your irrational beliefs: Ask yourself where your super demands come from and if they are really reasonable. Most of the time, you will discover that these beliefs are unfounded.

3. Acceptance and self-compassion: Learn to accept yourself as you are, with all your imperfections. Practice self-compassion instead of self-criticism. Treat yourself with the same kindness you would treat a friend who is going through a difficult time.

4. Set realistic goals: Instead of chasing perfection, set realistic and achievable goals. Recognize that making mistakes is part of being human and that failure does not define your worth as a person.

5. Seek support: Share your challenges with friends, family or a mental health professional. Sometimes talking about your feelings and concerns can be an important step toward freedom from self-demand.

Conclusions

Self-demand is a heavy burden that many people carry with them in their daily lives. However, it is possible to break free from this cycle of over-demands and live a more fulfilling and authentic life. Rafael Santandreu’s teachings remind us of the importance of being aware of our thoughts, questioning our irrational beliefs and practicing self-compassion. In doing so, we can break the chains of self-demand and find the fulfillment and inner peace we long for.

Don’t believe anything you just read, experiment and think for yourself.

What did you think of the article? Leave us a comment

Wake up

Wake up!