How To Silence The Inner Critic

How often do we worry about how other’s see us? We’re great to see things worse than they are. Below are a couple of ideas on how you might begin to silence the inner critic.

We torment ourselves when we solidify the belief that someone is judging us. That inner critic that unravels, thread by thread, our rational thoughts. I really implore you to remove this rigidity that you know what someone is thinking. What good does it serve you? What I want to help and address is the worry that believing you can read minds. It’s the effect of holding this belief that we need to address and discard, because what does it serve other than become a stick to bash yourself with? We can sympathise and forgive other parents when they are having a tough time of it, isn’t it time we did the same for ourselves?

Inner Critic and Reality

How can we tell whether we know what the other person is thinking?

Take a moment and prove my point.

1. Fold your arms as you would normally, comfortably and relaxed. Notice how ‘right’ it feels for you.
2. Unfold your arms. Now re-fold them in the opposite way. Where one hand is resting on your arm and the other tucked under the other arm.
3. I’m willing to bet that it may not feel awkward but nevertheless it won’t feel completely right. It’s ok but not natural and you prefer to fold your arms the other way.
4. Reflect for a moment. If someone walked past you, would they believe that you were feeling awkward? Or uncomfortable? I’m going to suggest that more often than not no one will know how you feel. There’d not be a reasonable way of knowing.

How similar is this to your belief that you’re being scrutinised by someone’s internal dialogue? Hopefully you notice we can partition our inner monologue which, I invite you to consider, is more useful to you.

Perception in the Workplace

I’ve been in seminars where attendees have said that when they’ve had to leave the office early they’ve noticed ‘looks’. However, all acknowledged that they couldn’t tell whether it was accurate or simply a perception.

If you’re a working parent, you may find that some colleagues’ question leaving work early. However, often this is more borne from lack of information or understanding than malice.

Solutions for the Inner Critic

If there is a critic of your hours, you can have discussions or look to better communicate your working schedule.

PR yourself so that there is better knowledge of when you are available.

Ask your manager to send a team-wide email refreshing your hours

Many times people will fill in the blanks of their information with negative connotations. A little knowledge can go a long way especially if it repairs work relationships. It may be as simple as getting to know the person better, on a human level, is all that’s needed.

Inner Critic: Parenting

There’s no reason this workplace example can’t work at other times. Perhaps there’s a parent you need to get to know better before you believe they are thinking the worst of you?

I think it’s a useful distinction to make when having these internal conversations: do I know this? Or am I believing this based on a presumption? However at least we can begin to break and crack that singular belief that it is fact or a problem. That person may be thinking about a trillion other things and is staring off into the distance yet coincidentally in your direction. It is more often the case that communication can resolve many of the perceptions and assumptions you may be experiencing. Close the gap between presumption and knowledge. Find out what’s really going on.

Perfectionism

It can’t be said enough times that perfection is an illusion. And I’d like to add the universe into the the category of imperfections. As Prof. Stephen Hawking put it quite simply:

“One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn’t exist… Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist”

Perfection is an imposition on a system/structure that is inherently beautifully imperfect. So let’s also ease back when things aren’t going so well for us . Let’s avoid those harsh internal critic(s) that tell us how we ‘should’ be.

Allow yourself to be vulernable

This also brings to mind the Brené Brown TedTalk about vulnerability. How stepping out from our shields and allow ourselves to be seen, to be vulnerable is a greater show of strength than remaining enclosed, safe, behind perfection.

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”

I get that it’s scary. It’s not nice to feel exposed and vulnerable yet it is one of the greatest signs of strength that you can harness. Breath in your imperfection, and release the binds of being parent. Be vulnerable and be proud that you’re willing to show up and make mistakes, for how else do we grow than threw learning? None of us got a book that maps perfectly our own journey. We are all making it up as we go, imperfectly and vulnerable to making mistakes. Rejoice! You’re at one with the universe.