How do I overcome my inner critic? How do I use my voice for transformation?

The voice of transformation begins with your inner voice. This is the foundation for the work you’ll do in the world.

And we’ll use your voice to create internal change, overcoming your inner critic so you can feel confident sharing your message.

Let’s look at the healing of the mind, even your own mind.

Right now, there’s an opportunity to connect with your inner ally. This is a part of you that wants you to succeed in life, with your goals, and it wants to help you step into your greater ambitions.

But you may not know this part of you yet. For many people, when they observe what’s happening internally, all they can find is their inner critic.

That part of themselves that just won’t let up about that thing they said or did. It won’t shut up about reminding them that they might make another mistake and fail all over again.

It’s there and it doesn’t seem to want to go away, even when you try hard to do what it wants. It’s still there. Day in, day out. Like a hemorrhoid.

Let’s look at the inner critic's role in your life, and perhaps shed some light on its persistence.

You may have had experiences in your life that were painful, and your inner critic is merely trying to help you not experience that emotional pain again. Sounds odd, right? Think about why it might help you.

Have you been criticized unfairly for things in the past? Have you experienced pain because you messed up, or been punished for it in a way that made you feel awful? Naturally, we don’t want to experience those things again, so we tell ourselves, “I can’t mess up again.” And every time we do mess up, our brains go into overdrive to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

Even though it's mostly unhelpful, this is your brain trying to keep you safe by over-adjusting to the circumstances. Most people who are self-critical are scared of messing up and scared of what it would be like if they did. So what do you do to overcome your inner critic?

Acknowledge that this part of you is trying to protect you and thank this part for trying to keep you safe. See this part of you for what it actually is, your ally.

Create an inner dialogue between the two of you, and let this part know that you are safe, that it's actually alright to make mistakes or to be imperfect. Tell it why you did that, and make it understand why you might have felt it was necessary at the time, even if you want to move on from it.

Let this part know that you will be fine if you experience some uncomfortable emotions, but that this doesn’t mean you’re not safe and loved.

Become friends with this part of you and begin to view your inner critic in a more neutral way – what it came into being for in the first place.

See this part of you like your new ally, the one that is always there for you and wanting to help you, and gently correct it when necessary. Treat that part of yourself like a kid who has to learn how to be appropriate and reward it when it helps you in an appropriate way.

This will help increase your self-esteem over time and will help weaken the powerful charge that has been created by your inner critic, and train it into something you can benefit from instead.

If you find that your inner critic just won't let up, then decide that you aren't listening to it for a little while. Give yourself a break and watch a movie or do something that keeps your mind busy for a bit.

Talk to your inner critic and tell it you are on a break for a bit – you'll listen to it later, but right now you're busy, and you need time to do something else or rest. It's just like working with any bad behaviors, only in a part of yourself.

Now that you know that your inner critic is simply trying to help you avoid getting hurt, you will start to notice that it will ease up a bit and give you a break. As long as you work with it and understand that you're defending yourself from potential pain and fear, you'll recognize that the pain and fear aren't there anymore, either.

And when they are, you’ll go through discomfort for a bit, but you can come back from it. You’re stronger than what you’re afraid of and you genuinely have an ally by your side.

This will allow you to use your voice to transform not only yourself but others as well.

You’ll be able to share your message authentically and positively impact others. It's a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, and you can unlock your full potential.

To help you do this, I’ve created a free brain booster hypnotic meditation called Inner Ally.

It will help you notice more neutral or positive thoughts and help you overcome the hemorrhoid in your brain.

Tap here to access it.