Taming your inner critic and finding peace can be challenging, especially if you are one of those people who like to nitpick. This problem is bad enough just living a normal life, but it is even worse if you’ve made mistakes you regret or missed out on opportunities. Then, the pain levels really start to ratchet up.
Fortunately, this post is here to help. We explore some of the tactics and methods you can use to bring your inner critic to heel and stop laying into yourself all the time. Ideally, you want your mind to work for you, not against you.
Table of Contents
Practice Treating Yourself Kindly
The first step is to practice treating yourself kindly. The more compassionate you can be, the better able you are to get over your mistakes.
Sure, you got some things wrong in your life. But you understand why. You made mistakes and hurt people, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. Constantly focusing on things you did wrong will prevent you from observing all the stuff you got right.
Try to forgive yourself. Don’t always dwell on the past. You can’t change things.
Question Your Inner Critic Criticisms
The next step is to actively question your criticism. Challenging it head-on can give you a better sense of perspective.
For example, you might be judging yourself for not performing better at work. But ask whether the criticism is fair. Sure, you might have made a mistake or done less than you could have, but you also faced new and difficult circumstances. You wanted to make something happen, but you couldn’t because of the situation itself. Next time, you have more information about the best way to proceed.
The more you criticize your inner voice, the less it can get away with. Often, our inner critics come from an internalization of other people. Pushing back a little can stop parents, teachers, co-workers, and friends from coloring your attitude toward yourself.
Get Involved In Something Good
You could also try getting involved in something good that helps other people. Suppose, for example, you’re one of these individuals who benefit from CBD oils. Setting up a business to get these products to more people could have a massive impact and change how you feel about yourself. Hemp product payment processing is available here and there on the internet, so you even have options to accept payments online.
Reframe The Narrative
Another cognitive technique you can try is called reframing the narrative. This part is where you turn whatever your inner critic is saying into affirmations.
For example, your critic might say “You are too lazy to go to the gym” but the kinder aspect of yourself might rephrase that as “you are resting before exerting yourself.”
This distinction can have a profound effect on your well-being. It reminds you that you are still capable of achieving your goals, even if you aren’t working strongly towards them right now.
Take Small Steps
When it comes to dealing with your inner critic, taking small steps to push back against it is okay. Instead of setting lofty goals, such as finding the perfect partner or setting up a billion-dollar business, make your aspirations more tangible. Focus on ensuring you can achieve smaller goals that will contribute to your ultimate aspirations.
Don’t be one of these people who becomes disheartened every time things don’t work out perfectly. While being grandiose can be motivating, it can also shut you down when you don’t get close to where you want to be.
Avoid Perfection
Another pro tip for dealing with your inner critic is to eliminate the idea that you should be perfect. The problem with perfection is that it’s an infinitely high standard so getting there is often impossible.
A much better philosophy is to believe in the principle of progress instead. As long as your life is moving forward, that’s what counts.
As you probably already know, nobody lives a perfect life. Everyone has gaps in their thinking or has to compromise. People make mistakes all the time because of cognitive biases and errors in thinking.
Catch Yourself In The Act
You also want to catch yourself in the act if you have a habit of criticizing yourself automatically. Understanding when you are most likely to do it can help you understand the triggers and interrupt the process before it becomes debilitating or starts to damage your mood. Try to identify patterns and anticipate when your negative inner critic might rear its ugly head.
