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Why are we so hard on ourselves?
It’s not just you. It’s present in people who exude confidence, too. We all have an internal voice that chastises us for not being good enough at certain things and lets us know when we have screwed something up. The question is, how much do you let it run the show?
Although I have done a lot of work on taming my own Inner Critic over the years, it remains an ongoing process. It still pops up when I am feeling unsure of myself when I make myself vulnerable when I don’t reach the level of success I’d hoped for in a particular endeavor. After all these years, it still hasn’t moved out. We’ve been talking in my coaching consultation group about why this is. I mean really, what is the deal?! Well, here’s my understanding of it, which I hope will offer some helpful insight.
In one sense, our inner critic is trying to help us. It wants to push us to do our best, and to prevent the potential negative impacts of making mistakes. It thinks it’s being motivational. In reality, however, that is rarely the case, because it goes about it in a way that tears us down instead of giving us a boost.
Most often, that internal voice reinforces our fears of inadequacy and results in us feeling bad about ourselves. It generally takes a fair amount of self-reflection to recognize just how ubiquitous this self-judgment can be. Often, we compound its effects by comparing ourselves to others – so easy to do in our critical and competitive culture – and our self-esteem takes the hit. Ironically, despite its best intentions, this inner voice tends to reduce our confidence and therefore diminishes the way we show up and makes us less effective.
So what are we to do?
First, we must learn to recognize it so we can begin to catch it while it’s in the act of delivering a critical remark. One way to do this is by practicing mindfulness to increase present awareness. In the quiet stillness of sitting with yourself, it is easier to hear the thoughts bubbling up and to simply notice them without embracing them as true. It doesn’t take long! They are often right there near the surface, causing you stress. Once you can notice them during a few minutes of sitting still, you become more skilled at noticing them when you’re going about your day.
Okay, great, you may be thinking. I am more aware of my critical self-judgments. So what? They still feel like crap.
But what if you offered your Inner Critic a little compassion and asked what it wants from you? Is it worried about you and wants to protect you from others’ criticism? Is it angry that you aren’t perfect because somewhere along the line it internalized the belief that you should be? Does it need to be comforted because it’s feeling embarrassed by something?
I suspect it is honestly trying to help in some way. It just has a rough way about it. It is not skillful in communicating with kindness and compassion. You have to teach it by treating it in such a manner. You already know how to treat your friends with compassion. You don’t tell them they are stupid when they make a mistake, do you? (if you do, please call me right away for an emergency coaching session!) So try being gentle with your Inner Critic, too. Even the Grinch needs to be loved.
You can also work to set some boundaries that can limit its impact on your psyche. One way to do this is to recognize where you developed this internal voice. Does it ever sound like someone else in your life? A relative or instructor? Peers who reinforced your self-doubt to defend their own? Can you hear those echoes and call your Critic on it? “Hmm, I see who you’re channeling there. Nice try! I know you feel bad, but you are not helping. We’re going to get through this. I am enough.”
Your approach may depend on your relationship with your inner voice, and different strategies may be more effective at different times. You can’t know until you try employing them. For most of us, harsh self-judgment is a deeply ingrained habit that isn’t easily shaken. It may help to get some support.
While it takes effort, mitigating the effects of your Inner Critic can yield great benefits. Among other things, it can help boost your confidence, make you more effective in relationships, and open you up to new experiences in life. Because you really are perfectly imperfect. Just like me.
Wishing you deep self-compassion and self-acceptance on this journey called life.
Happy November!
xoxo
Aishwarya ♥
Feel free to ask any questions or share your ideas in the comment section below. Alternately, I’d really appreciate for you to share this content on your social media platform if you found it useful so that others can benefit from it too. If you have any doubts or want a personal clarification, send me an email on eclipsedwords@gmail.com. For more inspiration, fun, and smiles, follow me on Instagram
Happy Blogging! ♥♥♥
Thank you for reading. Love you for that! ♥
—–Have Hope. Keep Faith—–
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ECLIPSEDWORDS BY AISHWARYA SHAH | NOVEMBER’2018 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©
What an absolutely wonderful post!
Beautifully presented too!
Thanks
DC
https://whaleshares.io/@darrenclaxton
Thank you!
What a wonderful post and also, beautifully written and presented.
Thanks again
DC
https://whaleshares.io/@darrenclaxton
Thank you!
HI Aishwarya…yours looks like a very interesting and helpful blog! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and for the ‘like’!
Happy Blogging!
And best wishes to you.
Thank you for this affirming message. I was recently in the presence of someone who tore me down, constantly, and mostly out of their own inner sense of hopelessness and ennui. Thankfully, that person decided I was too stupid to merit their time, and is now way in my rear view mirror. My own sense of self-worth is intact.
Experience a the best of the best teacher.
Hope you’re all right now. Take care!
much love xoxo
Experience is the best of the best teacher.
Hope you’re doing well. Take care!
much love xoxo
An excellent reminder for many
Thank you! 🙌
Great thoughts! Love the motivation and thoughtfulness! Especially enjoyed the parts about mindfulness and self compassion ❤
Glad you enjoyed reading it. Thanks for your time. 😊
Yes, it’s took some years to tame my inner critic, but as you say it can creep out again. My inner critic is starting to be rare, but because it’s rare,it can catch me out. Thankfully, it does not stay for long.
Thank you.
Best wishes to you,
hugs and love,
Xoxo ❤
Thank you. You too. X
Love post, we all definitely need a reminder from time to time to be gentle with ourselves.❤️😊
Yes, indeed.
Thank you for taking out our time to read and comment. ❤
You’re welcome 😊 ❤️
I never though to ask that question myself, my inner thoughts are always negative and it’s like my depression has a voice that talks to me…feel like I’m going crazy sometimes 😦
It’s a process. A phase. Please remain strong.
Best wishes to you
xoxo
Thank you so much 🙂
Wow I needed to read this. So beautifully thought out. Thank you.
Thank you ❤ 💫 ✨ X 🌈
Great post!!
Thank you!
A lovely reminder to love ourselves as we are able to love others. Thank you for posting! Also, what is your background in art?
http://www.cadencemcmanimon.wordpress.com
Writing and Art are my passion. A hobby, to be honest. I do it because I like it.
Same! Do you ever consider doing book reviews?
I really enjoy your drawing and photo. Why does an inner voice have to be one or the other? Mine is both positive and negative and there are times when the negative inner voice is helpful.
Perfect. Thanks for sharing this insight!
A good idea to try and understand WHY our inner critic does what it does (and finding a way to not let it kill your day.) On the writing side, this seems like a variation of my own INFERNAL EDITOR (the voice that tries to keep me from writing because I might make a mistake.) not sure I want to give him credit for having a good reason – give him an inch and he gives me nothing…Thanx for the post!
Thanks for this wonderful insight! Absolutely agree with you.
Nice thoughts and insight. That inner critic can be harsh. I think some of the things it says are lies but they can be so suggestive or convincing. Especially when the anxiety is talking. Take care!