We all have that voice in the back of our head. You know, the one that’s constantly second-guessing our every move, telling us we’re not good enough, smart enough, or brave enough. I’m talking, of course, about our inner critic.
For many of us, that inner critic can be incredibly loud and destructive. It’s the voice that tells us we’re never going to succeed, that we’re not cut out for this whole “adulting” thing. And if left unchecked, it can completely derail our best-laid plans and sabotage our chances for success.
Luckily, there is a way to tame that inner critic and put it in its place. And when you do, you’ll be amazed at how different your life becomes.
If you find yourself being ruled by your inner critic, try using some of these tips to tame it:
- Acknowledge It: The first step is acknowledging that you have an inner critic in the first place. Once you recognize its presence, you can start to work on silencing it.
- Challenge Its Statements: When your inner critic starts chiming in with negative statements, challenge them! Are they really true? Is there any evidence to support them? Chances are, they’re not nearly as true as your inner critic would have you believe—so don’t let them hold any power over you!
- Reframe Your Thinking: Once you’ve challenged the negative statements of your inner critic, reframe them into positive statements. For example, if your inner critic tells you “You’re never going to succeed,” reframe it as “You are capable of great things.” This reframing will help change your mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance—and enable you to see all the possibilities open to you.
- Focus on Your Strengths: Instead of fixating on your weaknesses or shortcomings (which your inner critic loves to do), focus on your strengths! Knowing what you’re good at—and leveraging those strengths—is a surefire way to silence your inner critic once and for all.
- Change Your Language: The words we use have a lot of power—so choose yours wisely! Instead of using language that reinforces negative beliefs (like “I’m such a screwup”), use affirmative language that builds you up (like “I am capable and competent”). This simple change in language can make a HUGE difference in how you see yourself—and how others see you as well.
So next time your inner critic starts chirping away, try using some (or all) of these tips to silence it once and for all. You might just be surprised at how much better you feel—and how much more successful you become!