Jul

24

Standing Up to Your Inner Critic

Filed Under Living your best life, Transition | 

These last two months have been very exciting for me. For a while now I have been sensing a shift in my work. There is an air of renewal and the desire for more clarity and direction. I have been down this path before and I can read the signs well. Bruce Burton said: “When you are through changing, you are through”I live by that.

Change is not easy, it is vital. I have long understood that when change needs to happen, it does not ask for permission. Therefore, you may as well make the best of it.So, I am rethinking my vision and my mission as a coach. I am dreaming of projects that can be of further benefit to my clients.

As I go on with my envisioning process, I am becoming aware of how my inner critic comes out to play. Sneaky little fellow. And persistent. But you know what? I can be persistent too. It takes more than my inner critic to stop me when I feel passionate about something.Today I thought we could explore the ways of our inner critic and together brainstorm how to go about dealing with the “creature” once and for all.

Everyone has an inner critic. It is the voice in our head that judges every decision we take, every move we make, and every word that comes out of our mouth. Our inner critic develops really early in life and initially it’s mission is to make sure we behave in socially acceptable way. As we grow older and depending on many factors and outside influences, the inner critic can become a saboteur. It becomes the voice that criticizes us so harshly that we freeze in time and space.“Whether you think you can or you cannot, you are right” Henry FordI love this quote because it points how powerful the way we talk to ourselves is.

Let’s say the day comes when you become inspired by an idea about a new project or a new direction you would like your business to go. The more you play the scenario in your mind, the more excited and energetic you become.

As the idea matures, you begin to think of ways to make it happen. Plans begin to form in your mind’s eye. There is a surge of energy and a growing sense of adventure. That’s when your inner critic sees an opening and seizes the opportunity to have a chat with you. It has been waiting in the shadows to see how far you will actually go. It may entertain your fantasy as long as it’s not real. Of course, if your inner critic is especially sadistic, it will get you from the get go.

Here is an example of what the voice in your head can start whispering or shouting to you:“Come here my friend. I am hearing some rumors about that great new idea of yours. A new direction you say? Are you serious?You know, that’s not for people like us. Too old, too young, too soon, too late, wrong place. We have responsibilities, we can’t just get up and go.This is not the time. Don’t be selfish, what would your mother, father, wife, husband, children, friends, colleagues, and neighbors say?Get real! Enough with dreaming, we have bills to pay!”

That’s how dreams die. Whether you think you can or you cannot, you are right. Your inner critic wins.Is that what you want? Aren’t you tired of giving in to the voices in your head? Don’t you have enough of feeling frustrated and being at the mercy of the voice that says you are not good enough to have what you want?

My friends, life is too short to live it by the spoonful. There is no reason why you can’t experience joy, fulfillment, and peace of mind every day of your life. Give yourself permission to stand up to your inner critic. Answer back! With a vengeance! Write your dreams down on a piece of paper and post it everywhere you can see it! Say it out loud to yourself in front of the mirror everyday!

Begin to ask open ended questions! How can I make it happen? What do I need to do first? Who can support me in this? What are my alternatives? What resources are available to me? Life is too short to be spent in self-doubt and halfhearted experiments.

What is the best time to start? Today of course! There has never been a better time to take the first step towards making your dream a reality. There has never been a better time to make a commitment to yourself and begin to live differently, if that’s what you want. So, go ahead. Speak your truth. Acknowledge your needs and find a way to get them fulfilled. Feel your self-worth right here and now. Love and support yourself the way you want others to love and support you.

As you read the lines above, what are you experiencing? Is it excitement or is it fear? What is the voice in your head telling you? Pay attention! You are the only one who has the answers to your questions. If you choose to do nothing what will your experience of life be? How has “doing nothing” served you so far? You may have read Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity but here it is anyway: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!”

Are your ready to make different choices? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to push your sleeves up and get to work. Time for self-reflection, clarity, and a good deal of research. Don’t let one more day go by when you don’t do something towards making your dream a reality or improving the quality of your life.I will finish this entry with a quote from Hellen Keller.“

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”

To your growing success!

© 2007 Yota Schneider, Open for Success.May be distributed if full attribution is given and copyright notice is included. Contact yota@openforsuccess.com

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