For me, the easiest type of self-criticism to slip into is comparing myself to others. What I eventually came to realize though is that I was comparing my individual skills/achievements in a given field against the most accomplished people in that field. Like: I do computers and business but I have not pulled a Steve Jobs so I clearly must suck. And: I do photography but I must be a terrible failure because my work isn't in the Guggenheim.
Although those are comically extreme examples, media and society makes is easy to do this sort of thing on smaller scales. I also realized that even when I did come out on top of any mental comparisons, it did not make me feel any better. So now I try to catch winner think early and instead remember: there will only ever be one me, I should strive to be the best, most complete version of myself I can be. This mindset has been a far more productive
I experienced this with Facebook too, but not because I felt envious of other peoples' social highlights and I was comparing myself to that.
Facebook often shows you posts and photos from the same time in previous years, like memories but not particularly authentic. I found myself getting into a worse state of mind when I started comparing who I am now to who I was a year ago, two years ago... because my own highlight reel back then was far more exciting and vibrant than it has been more recently. Or that's what Facebook will have you believe, because it's just a one-dimensional window into a vast and diverse existence. It won't show you anything from your past that doesn't unambiguously register as 'happy'.
It makes it really easy to forget that there are positive notes to things you can't share so easily, so the comparison is as misleading as it is damaging.
I've experienced negativity from comparing my past self to the present, but because that self was too similar to the current. As in I wasn't experiencing enough progress as I liked. Fortunately comparing past to present GitHub shows a better trend.
Although those are comically extreme examples, media and society makes is easy to do this sort of thing on smaller scales. I also realized that even when I did come out on top of any mental comparisons, it did not make me feel any better. So now I try to catch winner think early and instead remember: there will only ever be one me, I should strive to be the best, most complete version of myself I can be. This mindset has been a far more productive