"I was tired of listening to my harshest critic, the little voice in my head, so I became more KIND to myself." -Member of myPCOSteam

Every day we may judge ourselves and others without realizing it. Like many members of myPCOSteam have found, living with PCOS is an exercise in frustrating moments. You may blame yourself when you look in the mirror or when pain and fatigue cause you to cancel plans. The problem is when you let these internal judgments shape belief in yourself.

Here are recent conversations from members on myPCOSteam:

"I was in one of those moods today where I didn’t care or even felt self-conscious about my facial hair. So little by little, I’m becoming more accepting of my PCOS."

"I have learned to love myself and my body despite the havoc PCOS has caused in and out of my body."

"Day by day, I will get better at healthful eating that focuses on what makes me feel energetic; on movement, even if it's gentle..."

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 myPCOSteam.