Have you ever lay awake at night, unable to get back to sleep, hearing a voice that is relentlessly critical of you? I had just been offered an opportunity to join a startup that delivered its wellness services via the internet as the Director of Nutrition. Way ahead of its time, it was going to be a game changer! All I could hear in my head was:
“I’m not smart enough”
“I’m not strong enough”
“I’m not enough”
I look back on that time of my life and how loud my Inner Critic was. This startup was an amazing opportunity that provided me a platform to spread my nutrition and wellness message to thousands or tens of thousands and that’s what kept me grounded. I knew I would have an impact. But that voice I heard whispering in my ear required a tremendous amount of energy to keep from losing myself. The rest of the story I’ll save for another blog. What mattered most was that my Inner Critic has reared its ugly face throughout my life and it made it unbearable to navigate any rough waters. The challenges it brought to my life created crippling fear, anxiety and insomnia. My eating, exercise and lifestyle habits were suffering too. I was too tired to do anything but work. I decided that life it too short to let this Inner Critic rule my mind. Holding on to these thoughts and feelings didn’t make sense. It was time to silence it.
I realized that my mindset was firing neural pathways that didn’t serve me anymore. I mean, what purpose does worry and ruminating on all the mistakes you’ve made every night? I know it’s helping the coffee industry grow but I’d rather enjoy my coffee without the sleepless nights.
It got me to wonder why, despite knowing all the right moves, this climb up the success ladder felt more like I was on a treadmill—lots of sweat but not really getting anywhere? Well, I finally realized that I was not alone in this struggle, and talking with a friend, reading a transformational book (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey), and practicing habits made all the difference. It wasn’t the things that were happening to me, it was how my mind was seeing it.
If my mind could look at these challenges and roadblocks as gifts or opportunities, what would happen to the fear and anxiety? That was just the tip of the iceberg. though. Here’s a little secret—my Inner Critic was actually trying to protect me because it’s afraid of change. Keeping me stuck might have been helpful when I was a kid. But it didn’t make sense or serve me anymore. Imagine, just for a second, shedding that weight that’s sitting on your shoulders (and possibly around your waist), looking at it, instead, as a wonderful opportunity to overcome whatever you were facing, stepping into a world where you lead your business to soaring heights, fall in love with the reflection in the mirror, and inject pure joy into every day. Sounds great, right?
Now, let’s get to the gift that’s sitting right in front of you. You can be optimistic and hopeful of the future and grateful for all that you have. The Inner Critic doesn’t agree with this paradigm, though. You need to silence it and start listening to your Inner Coach. You’re Inner Coach is the voice that believes in you, has your back, and talks to you like a best friend would.
“You’ve got this!”
“You’re learning or celebrating. Failure is not an option.”
“You’re not there yet, but you’re three feet from gold!”
Having an Inner Coach can help quiet the nagging voices in your head. The ones that fill you with doubt and whisper sweet nothings like, “You’ve gotta lose the weight to be worth anything.” That’s your inner critic talking, and it’s got a whole crew. Today, we’re zeroing in on a particularly sneaky one: the Perfectionist Maestro. This maestro conducts an orchestra of “shoulds” and “musts,” playing a tune of perfectionism, control, and the fear of letting others in.
It’s time for a revelation! What if I told you these inner critics are actually masquerading fears, fearfully clutching onto the baton of your life, afraid to hand it over? And what if mastering them could unlock a life of confidence, joy, and success?
Curious? That’s where my INNER CRITIC QUIZ comes into play! It’s not your average quiz. Think of it as the first step on a journey of transformation. You’ll not only discover which of the 10 Inner Critics has been directing your life’s orchestra but also learn how to tune into your true potential.
And here’s the best part: Once you’ve met your Inner Critic through my quiz, I invite you to quiet those voices with my 21-Day Challenge. I created 21 days of actionable insights, support, and strategies to not just silence the critic but to orchestrate a life of harmony, success, and fulfillment. Just like I did for myself.
Are you ready to turn your inner critic into your inner coach? To move from self-doubt to self-empowerment? I created this to live my best life and you can too. Take the quiz, join the challenge, and celebrate the infinite possibilities that present themselves.
Time to Quiet Your INNER CRITIC Take the QUIZ: CLICK THIS LINK TO FIND YOURS! https://proattitudes.com/inner-critic-assessment-1
