3 Tips on Managing Your Inner Critic
3 Tips on Managing Your Inner Critic
We all have an inner critic whose voice is irrational and harsh. Here are three effective tips to managing that nagging voice in your head:
1. Give It a Funny Name Acknowledging your inner critic’s existence takes away its power. Go one step further by giving it a silly name (mine is named Fred, and yes, there’s a backstory!). A ridiculous name allows you to label its voice as harsh, pessimistic, backwards-looking, and you can deflate its power in your life.
2. Determine Which Of The 6 Forces Are At Work When you face a moment of doubt or insecurity, identify which of the 6 forces is driving that fear. Once you diagnose the problem, it’s much easier to solve it.
3. Best Case/Worst Case/Most Likely Case For the situation you’re facing, identify what is the worst that can happen. For me, I ask the question, “What would Fred say?” Then, combat that inner critic with the megaphone of your superpowers. Ask yourself, “What is the best case scenario based on my strengths?” The most likely case is now closer to the best case because you are in control, stemming from your superpowers.
The inner critic never goes away for good, but we can deflate its tires by identifying it for what it is, understanding why it shows up, and moderating the impact it has on us. Things don't get easer; we get stronger.
Take that, Fred!
“Courage calls to courage everywhere. And its voice cannot be denied.”
-MILLICENT FAWCETT
Suffragist Millicent Fawcett's words are a call to courage, inspiring us all to take action. The Rebel Sweatshirt is the perfect billboard for a call to action.
