Have you ever felt like there’s a voice inside your head that just won’t quit? That’s your critical inner voice, and it loves to make you doubt yourself.
In this post, we’ll explore eight common ways this inner critic shows up in our daily lives:
- Perfectionist Pal
- Comparison Champ
- Procrastination Partner
- Self-Downer
- Fear Feeder
- People-Pleaser Puppet
- Mind Reader
- Doom and Gloom Forecaster
Understanding these personas is the first step to quieting that nagging voice and regaining control of your thoughts and actions.
What is a Critical Inner Voice?
The critical inner voice is the negative way we talk to ourselves, often filled with doubts, criticisms, and fears. It’s influenced by our past experiences, societal pressures, and our own self-worth.
To overcome it each day, we can start by noticing when it arises, questioning its truthfulness, and replacing those negative thoughts with positive ones.
Engaging in confidence-boosting activities like exercise, hobbies, or spending time with supportive people can also help diminish its impact over time.
How Does It Happen?
Sometimes, our inner voice operates quietly in the background without us noticing. But it’s crucial to pay attention, especially when it’s critical.
This critical inner voice can be harsh, making us doubt ourselves. To recognize it, we need to listen to our thoughts and feelings, noticing when we’re being hard on ourselves.
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By noticing our critical inner voice, we can start to challenge it and be kinder to ourselves.
How to Spot Your Critical Inner Voice
1. The Perfectionist Pal: Does it often say, “It’s not good enough”? That’s your perfectionist pal chiming in. It loves nitpicking everything you do, leaving you feeling like you’ll never measure up.
2. The Comparison Champ: Ever caught yourself thinking, “Why can’t I be more like them”? That’s the comparison champ at work. It’s constantly making you feel like you’re falling short compared to others.
3. The Procrastination Partner: Struggling to start things until the last minute? Blame it on your procrastination partner. It loves convincing you that you’re not ready or capable, so why bother starting now?
4. The Self-Downer: Can’t accept a compliment without deflecting it? Meet your self-downer. It’s the one telling you that you’re not worthy of praise or recognition.
5. The Fear Feeder: Feeling scared to take that next step? That’s the fear feeder talking. It enjoys filling your head with worst-case scenarios, making you too afraid to even try.
6. The People-Pleaser Puppet: Ever say yes when you really mean no? That’s your people-pleaser puppet pulling the strings. It convinces you that your worth is tied to making others happy.
7. The Mind Reader: Thinking you know what everyone else is thinking? That’s the mind reader playing tricks on you. It loves making you believe you’re a mind reader, usually with not-so-great results.
8. The Doom and Gloom Forecaster: Always anticipating the worst? That’s the doom and gloom forecaster at it again. It enjoys painting a bleak picture of the future, making you doubt yourself at every turn.
Calming The Inner Voice
According to this study, 80% of our self talk is negative or unproductive. So, learning how to calm it down is important.
When our inner voice gets critical, there are simple ways to calm it down:
- Positive Thoughts: Think about your strengths and achievements to shift away from negativity.
- Take a Breath: Pause for a moment to think clearly and calmly.
- Stay Present: Focus on what’s happening now to feel more grounded and less anxious.
- Encouraging Words: Tell yourself kind things to boost confidence and push back against doubts.
With these steps, we can quiet our inner critic and feel more positive.
Conclusion
In the end, we don’t have to let our inner critic take over. By using these simple tricks, we can quiet that negative voice and feel better about ourselves.
Remember, everyone doubts themselves sometimes, but we have the power to change how we think.
So, next time your inner critic speaks up, try these tips and take control of your thoughts. You’ve got this!
Bonus: Bestselling Resources
- Firestone PhD, Robert W. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 232 Pages - 05/01/2002 (Publication Date) - New Harbinger Publications (Publisher)
- Audible Audiobook
- Robert W. Firestone (Author) - Will Damron (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 04/25/2017 (Publication Date) - Tantor Audio (Publisher)
- Tiny Buddha's Guide to Loving Yourself: 40 Ways to Transform Your Inner Critic and Your Life
- Hardcover Book
- Deschene, Lori (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 288 Pages - 10/08/2013 (Publication Date) - Conari Press (Publisher)
