Topic this week: Listening to Our Inner Critic
We all have an inner critic. That voice is there to let us know when we've done something wrong or maybe we need to do something different. It can help us along our way. It can also damage us as well. We can't allow that to happen.
Ask yourself one simple question when your inner critic is telling you something: "Is this good for me?" If the answer is 'no', then let it go. (Hey! That rhymes.) If your inner critic is telling you something that is not good for you or is not helpful to you, than how is that going to help you?
If our inner critic is more often than not putting negative thoughts through our minds it soon becomes a habit to listen to them. Habits may be difficult to break, but we can break them. Those of us with anxiety issues tend to have more negative thoughts than we do those which are positive and healthy. We have that in common. Reason being is because we believed the negative thoughts and kept them coming.
The more negative thoughts we listen to, the more negative we become. The more positive thoughts we listen to, the more positive we become. We're so use to hearing and listening to the negative self critic that we no longer even realize we're doing it.
We have to train our self critic and we have to listen to only the things that will bring us up and those things that will help us become who we choose to be. The negative self critic is not going to get us there. It pulls us down as opposed to lifting us up.
We sure can beat ourselves up when we listen that negative self critic. "You can't do anything right." "Why did you do that?" "You are so stupid." "You can't do that." "Why should I even try when I know I can't do it anyway?" Do those statements sound at all familiar to you?
The self critic can be very helpful, but we have to be very careful to distinguish between what criticisms are helpful and which are not. Pay close attention to your self critic and don't allow it to deceive you.
You decide what you want in your life and who you want to be and don't allow the self critic to sabotage you on your way to making those things happen. When the negative self critic rears it's ugly head just let it pass right on by. Give it the 'boot' and say "Next!"
Before long you will notice that negative self critic less and less. Work on that!
GOAL FOR THE WEEK
Pay attention to the self critic.
Tame that negative self critic by giving it the boot.
INSPIRATION
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt
"Abilities wither under faultfinding, blossom with encouragement."
-- Donald A. Laird
"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."
-- Norman Vincent Peale
TIPS FOR THE WEEK
Make a gratitude journal and write all the things you are grateful for. It's really uplifting.
Before the weather gets cold, go outside and find some place where you can be alone to meditate or just quiet the mind by being alone. Just 'be'. Breath!
AFFIRMATIONS
No one is better than I am. I am not better than anyone else.
I know I am a good person.
I am growing and learning every day.
For this moment I will just let things 'be'.
I no longer feel the fear of anxiety.
Today I choose to feel joy.
Until next week I wish for you a self critic who is helpful and more of this lovely weather we've all been having. Get outside and be one with nature. Quiet your mind and breath in that wonderful fresh air.
Sue
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