The Dangers Of Being Too Hard On Yourself Analysis

Dr. Christian Jarrett’s “The Dangers of Being Too Hard On Yourself” is an article that appears in 99U, Adobe’s online magazine for creatives, in 2016. Categorized under 99U’s Creative Blocks section, Jarrett’s motivational article addresses the creative standstill that comes from being too harsh with oneself. More specifically, the author argues against the habit of excessive self-reproach and holding oneself to impossible standards. On the basis of reasoning that too much self-criticism is counterproductive and a hindrance to progress, the author also attempts to persuade the reader to be kind and respectful to yourself whenever the going gets rough. Throughout the article, Jarrett presents a solution whose parameters are defined by findings on various conducted research provided. Overall, the article warrants the common belief that we should ultimately look out for our best interest, as too much self-criticism can be very harmful. Through author’s use of syllogism, prolepsis, and numerous examples, Jarrett ultimately creates a strong, compelling argument by mostly appealing to the reader’s sense of reason. To begin, the author sets the stage for the article with a syllogism—inferring to the prevailing mantra: “No Pain, No Gain,” to which then the author describes “stress, strife, and constant busyness as a badge of effort,” and therefore, any time spent …show more content…
In fact, the author uses this strategy the most to further strengthen his appeal to the reader’s sense logos and ethos. First, the presentation of scholarly data begins as Jarrett cites one of the leading researchers in psychology, Kristin Neff at the University of Texas at Austin, as means to coin the approach of “self-compassion” as a potential solution to the danger of harsh, habitual self-reproach. In quoting Neff, self-compassion is described