The inner critic is a piece of work. She is like that friend who wants to keep you close because she doesn’t want you to build a life that will move you away from her or ahead of her. THAT IS NOT WHAT A TRUE FRIEND DOES—and you know it! So why do you accept this from within yourself?
Women have told me their inner critic protects them so they don’t make a fool of themselves or get into something where they will fail. Some have told me their inner critic has helped them remain grounded so they don’t think too highly of themselves. Others have told me their inner critic keeps them from being hurt.
This sounds like another way to talk about fear, right? Well really it is a way to keep you small.
Yes, staying small and safe is more comfortable. The comfort zone is attractive—it is NOT where the action is AND you will never have the life you really want if you get stuck there. So decided do you want to be comfortable or create a life?
If you say you want to have a life and you are still playing it safe—you are NOT alone. But it feels very lonely.
IF you want a thinking or strategic partner to help you get yourself out of that comfort zone, that’s what I do. Contact me when you are ready….and until then, I plan to do my best to support you to take the small steps to get ready. Join my mailing list for more resources, tips and tools.
In this week’s podcast I encourage you to notice—JUST notice how your inner critic is talking to you, when she speaks up and the messages she brings. Once you have become more aware of her, I encourage you to start paying attention to the habits you have formed because of her messages. If you are willing to journal about your day, it will help you a great deal. Habits are part of the comfort zone and they become deeply ingrained—to the point that we move through life governed by habits without realizing the impact they are having.
Before you know it your mindsets are more fixed, your beliefs are more limiting and you lack clarity about your own values.
In August I will be starting a series on Mindset—among other topics I will explore why brains and talent don’t bring you success AND how they might even get in the way!
AND Next time we will talk about that Toxic Person in the office and how to deal with him/her.