Are you ready to quiet your inner critic and relieve anxiety, worry, self-doubt and self-sabotage?
We all have that voice inside our heads – the one that criticizes, doubts, and sometimes even sabotages our efforts. This is your inner critic, and for many of us struggling with anxiety, it can be particularly loud and persistent. But what if I told you that you have the power to fire this unwelcome mental tenant?
Understanding Your Inner Critic
Your inner critic often develops as part of your negativity bias, looking for ways to protect and keep you safe—trying to shield you from failure or disappointment. However, it is often counterproductive, leading to increased anxiety, decreased self-esteem and limiting patterns.
Signs your inner critic might dominating the space in your mind:
Frequent to constant self-doubt and second-guessing.
Harsh self-judgment and frustration over minor mistakes.
Difficulty accepting compliments.
Perfectionist tendencies that lead to procrastination and self-sabotage
Steps to Fire Your Inner Critic
1. Identify the Voice: Start by being aware of when your inner critic is speaking. Do you notice patterns or triggers?
2. Challenge the Thoughts: Ask yourself, "Is this thought really true? What evidence do I have for and against it?". Most of the time, these negative scenarios are not what is true.
3. Practice Self-Compassion: Offer yourself kindness like you would a good friend.
4. Reframe Negative Self-Talk: Transform critical thoughts into constructive feedback. Instead of "I can't believe I did that," try "I'm still learning and that's okay."
5. Cultivate a Positive Mindset: Find opportunities to compliment yourself when you get it right. (This is a powerful practice that I learned in my dog training program).
Practice gratitude and affirmations to build a more supportive inner dialogue.
6. Seek Support: Sometimes, you need some extra help from a professional who can provide valuable tools and perspectives in managing your inner critic.
To help you with anxiety in the moment, get our Anxiety Relief Toolkit.
If you are looking to create lasting change in your life to move toward a more purposeful, connected and fulfilling future, book a discovery call to learn more about our programs.
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