Talking to your inner critic, can it be tamed?

[quirkywords]

Do you have an inner critic ? Have you ever tried to talk to your inner critic. This is what happened when I tried. In my Be yourself thread people asked about how I interviewed my inner critic. So here it is.

This is adapted from a writing exercise to interview your inner critic about one's writing. As my inner critic has an opinion all aspects of my life I decided to broaden the scope of the interview.

Me: I welcome (well I don't really) this opportunity to find out why you always need to have an opinion that is always negative about me and my life.

IC: I thought this was going to be a friendly interchange of ideas but there you go with your anger and hostile remarks. I do not see myself as negative but as helping you, because you do need help.

I am here to help you why can't you see that?

Me: So when I am trying to sleep and you tell me about all my mistakes, embarrassing moments, how does that help me?

IC: I thought while you are in bed you would have time to consider some of your past behaviours. This I feel will only help you to improve.

Me: If you are so helpful why do I feel so worthless, so sad, so ignorant when you are around? Do you really know how low I can feel when you are constantly telling me all my faults?

IC: You make yourself feel that way- I am merely pointing out the truth. It is not my problem that you are so weak.

Me: Maybe this was a bad idea you are never going to listen to me or understand me.

IC: Have you ever thought that maybe you shouldn't listen to me if I upset you so much.

Me How can I ignore you when you are so loud at times.

IC: See this is what I mean you are so weak. You have the power to ignore me, to silence me but all you do is whinge and complain.

Me: I am ending this interview. Enough is enough.

What would you say to your inner critic and what do you want to hear from your inner critic? Maybe you can have a go at interviewing your inner critic.

Quirky

[Chloe_M]

Hi Moon

Same with me... IC has shut up... wonder why... im glad though 🙂

[Ggrand]

Hi all,

Maybe some of our inner critic will hibernate this winter and give us a much needed rest and the freedom to do what we want to without the usual inner critic interuptions....Just wishful thinking (sigh). maybe one day. ...Ha inner critic saying to me right now...You know me better then that Grandy..I'm here to stay...

Grandy..

[quirkywords]

hello everyone

Grandy and Chloe

funny how inner critic hibernate and for others it is louder than ever for winter.

I wonder how many inner critics are seasonally affected.Not me . My critic is quiet now as I am worried about a friend who is not well

Quirky

[Doolhof]

Hi Qirky and Everyone.

Hey Quirky, hope you r friend is doing okay.

hat is one thing with inner critics, depression, anxiety or what ever, if we are busy and occupied doing something meaningful and purposeful, like caring for someone else, cleaning the house or what ever, we don't have time to listen and pay attention to all that mental health unhelpfulness!

I need to have a chat to my IC when I am trying to do my study. It tells me I can not cope with it before I even turn the computer on! I need to show my IC who is boss!

Cheers all from Dools

[Music_Freak]

My IC seems to be sitting on my shoulder lately, whispering in my ear trying to make me doubt myself with starting uni.

I'm trying to believe I can do it and will manage the work, but the self doubt was already there before IC got all comfy 😞

[Chloe_M]

And the IC is back! ☹️

I had a dance comp the other day, as I was waiting side state for my turn, my IC started whispering.

"You're going to forget it"

"Why are you doing this? There's no point, you're not good enough"

it was very frustrating. Even more so when I told my mum about an 'evil little voice in my head'. She freaked out. Then she got angry at me and told me not to exaggerate. she told me I'd talk myself into a psychiatric ward.

[Doolhof]

Hi Everyone,

That IC can be persistent at times. At least we know what it is, so that means we are aware that the IC does not talk the truth! It makes us think unhelpful things about ourselves or the world. We can tell it to be quiet and to go away.

We can change the story! We can create our own destiny. We can have belief in ourselves! We have the power within us to overcome that voice.

When you work out how to do that, let me know! Ha. Ha. Seriously, it is all just talk in our minds. Chatter that we don't need to listen to.

Chloe, your Mum may have little understanding of what you are experiencing. She may never have battled like you do and as others do. In that case it is hard to comprehend just how real mental health issues are.

So Chloe, did you enjoy the experience at the dance competition in the end? How do you feel you went? Were you pleased with your effort, did you appreciate the skills of some of the other dancers? Hope it went well for you!

Cheers all from Dools

[quirkywords]

Hello all,

My IC had convinced me this thread had runs its course then I looked to day and encouraging nad honest posts.

Mrs D,

I would tell your IC you are doing well with your studies and you will tell it off before you turn the computer On.

music, I can relate to the self doubt but I just say can do this , I have tackled new things before. I think it must be the cooler season that is bringing out the inner critics.

Chloe, I suppose I do not tell other people about my critic because of how your mum r acted. like Mrs D Imam wondering how the dance went. DOmyou find once you are busy Dancing your IC shuts up and is entranced by your dancing??

thanks everyone por posting and reading.

Quirky

[Chloe_M]

Hi all,

Dools and quirky firstly how were your days? Mine was actually good im happy 🙂

I did enjoy the dancing, i came highly commended the comp was one of the biggest in my city so im proud.

Quirky my IC shuts up all right. It doesn't say anything while im dancing, but after i come off stage it starts whispering stuff again.

[Ggrand]

Hello Quirky, Chloe, Everyone,

I can relate to ic shutting up when we are doing something we enjoy... but once we're finished even though we enjoyed ourselves and maybe even a little proud of ourselves, I found my ic seems to always speak up and spoil my achievements by saying im not good enough, I could have done better, why did I say that, what was I thinking. Blah..blah...blah..blah...

Time to have a shower now...ic why your only gonna waste water, it's too early, Ive done nothing today to deserve a shower.. blah...blah...blah...When someone know how to tame ic please let me know...

Grandy..