How to Deal with Your Inner Critic?

Criticism is one of the things that often stops us from pursuing our dreams. Since childhood, we have encountered people who have told us what is possible and what is not, which dreams are “good” and which are “bad,” and why we can or cannot achieve our goals.

Unfortunately, no one had to tell us these things at a certain point because we began to tell ourselves these false beliefs. The outer critic turned into an inner one, and we confined ourselves to the comfort zone that this criticism formed.

None of this criticism was intended to harm us, but rather to protect us. However, the intent was misguided. It's time to start challenging all those beliefs stuffed in our heads when we were young. It's time to calm that inner critic and stop believing in outer critics. That's what we'll delve into in this article.

The Inner Critic

Each of us has a voice in our heads, which is a daily stream of consciousness in one way and a set of all the beliefs and expectations that we have encountered during our lives in another way. This set might benefit us if those beliefs and expectations make us stronger. However, if they are full of doubt and negativity, they will turn into an inner critic, which is that voice that always tells us what we cannot do and why we will fail.

It is a voice that we have been taught to listen to as we grow up, but we must learn not to listen to it. It is good to reflect on our choices and dreams and make wise decisions, but we often overthink and give up before we even try because that voice has told us that what we think of is "impossible" anyway.

It might take some time to calm this inner critic. You have been listening to it for too long. So, you probably won't be able to stop it all of a sudden. Be patient, be kind to yourself, and don't give up.

How to Turn Off Your Inner Critic

An inner critic consists of thoughts only, and it is possible to change thoughts once you become aware of them. Follow these tips to overcome the inner critic:

1. Identify what your inner critic is telling you and write these statements down.
2. Know the source of these beliefs and who told you about them. Is it your family, your friends, your teachers, or your culture?
3. Describe how these beliefs have influenced your behavior in the past.
4. Rewrite these statements in a positive way, and come back to them whenever your inner critic starts to bother you.

Practical example:

1. I'm not as good as other people.
2. My teacher told me this when I was 6 years old.
3. I compared myself to others and hid.
4. I'm good enough.

This will help you confront your inner critic's words and change your view of the world into a more powerful one. If you keep telling yourself the positive statements that you have paraphrased, you will start to believe them.

If you want to take it a step further, collect evidence of those positive statements from the past and find ways to prove them to yourself in the future. Find examples of what makes you unique and how that uniqueness is so wonderful. Engage in activities that highlight your uniqueness even more.

Turning Your Inner Critic into an Inner Supporter

As you begin to gather evidence of your awesomeness, you will begin to believe more in yourself and your abilities. Your inner critic might gradually turn into your inner supporter.

To help with this transition, do the following:

1. Make a list of three things that you are grateful for or that you love about yourself each day.
2. Ask your friends to list your three greatest strengths.
3. Write a letter of self-appreciation, addressing yourself kindly.

In Conclusion

Do this regularly or whenever you need a little encouragement. It is not arrogant to love yourself; it is logical. Be aware that you are enough, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise, even if it's yourself.