Module 2
Part 1
Meeting your critics
The practice of quietening and Reassuring the critics, not banishing
Rise n’ Thrive Module 2
Part 1
Inner Critic
A strategy used by your safety instinct, to keep you in your comfort zone. It adapts to your alarm and aims to keep you from psychological risk. Persists despite evidence of the contrary.This results in unshared ideas, questions and perspectives, roles not applied for and unused talents. There are long term impacts on professional life, health and quality of life.
I’m so pleased you are here and brave enough to take a deeper look at your relationship with doubt. Here, we will be considering how our self-doubt can shape our actions and results. As we progress throughout the course we will look at how you can move forward with the doubt.
In this part we will cover
- Getting to know our critics
- 7 types of critic
- Getting to know the critic
Download your playbook, get comfy and let’s get started!
This can be filled in as a pdf on your laptop (remember to save after each edit), downloaded and used on a tablet or printed and used with pen, pencil, paints…
Acts like
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Acknowledge
When we acknowledge the critic is present, and hear it out, it quietens it and prevents them taking bigger steps to get our attention
Let’s acknowledge what it is trying to protect us from – is it trying to avoid us being embarrassed, exposed or rejection What is this part of you afraid of or motivated by?
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Move through
With knowledge of the type of critic and what they are trying to protect us from, we can take back the agency and make a choice.
Will we give into the critic (It will happen, this is a practice) or can we acknowledge the critic and use a tool to move through the emotion with the critic?
We can reassure the critic and take them along with us as we face what they are trying to protect us from, showing them an alternative outcome to the one they are trying to convince us is inevitable
The angry response only makes the critic stronger and more powerful. It’s rapidly evolving and will use what you value at any moment.
The critic is one voice in you. It may have become dominant, but it’s not the core of you. Recognise it and name it for what it is.
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Recognise
- Recognise it
- Harsh, rude, mean tone
- Black and White thinking
- Presents as the voice of reason
- The voice of “You aren’t ready yet/good at”
- Like a tape and a broken record
- The 1-2 Punch (double the criticsism)
- Takes inspiration from people in your life, culture, country or society
- Irrational but persistent
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Separate
- The critic is one part of you, but you are made up of many parts that are always evolving
- The critic is essentially trying to protect you in the only way it knows how
- When you spot a critic, approach them with kindness and ask why they are there
Acts like
Yes, we accept reservations. Please call us or book online through our website.
Sounds like
We are open from 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Saturday. We’re closed on Sunday. Holiday hours may vary, so please call or check our website for specific information on those dates.
Motivated by
Yes, we offer an array of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. If you have other dietary requirements, please inform your server, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Acts like
Yes, we accept reservations. Please call us or book online through our website.
Sounds like
We are open from 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Saturday. We’re closed on Sunday. Holiday hours may vary, so please call or check our website for specific information on those dates.
Motivated by
Yes, we offer an array of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. If you have other dietary requirements, please inform your server, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Acts like
Yes, we accept reservations. Please call us or book online through our website.
Sounds like
We are open from 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Saturday. We’re closed on Sunday. Holiday hours may vary, so please call or check our website for specific information on those dates.
Motivated by
Yes, we offer an array of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. If you have other dietary requirements, please inform your server, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Acts like
Yes, we accept reservations. Please call us or book online through our website.
Sounds like
We are open from 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Saturday. We’re closed on Sunday. Holiday hours may vary, so please call or check our website for specific information on those dates.
Motivated by
Yes, we offer an array of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. If you have other dietary requirements, please inform your server, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Acts like
Yes, we accept reservations. Please call us or book online through our website.
Sounds like
We are open from 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Saturday. We’re closed on Sunday. Holiday hours may vary, so please call or check our website for specific information on those dates.
Motivated by
Yes, we offer an array of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. If you have other dietary requirements, please inform your server, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Acts like
Yes, we accept reservations. Please call us or book online through our website.
Sounds like
We are open from 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Saturday. We’re closed on Sunday. Holiday hours may vary, so please call or check our website for specific information on those dates.
Motivated by
Yes, we offer an array of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. If you have other dietary requirements, please inform your server, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Acts like
Yes, we accept reservations. Please call us or book online through our website.
Sounds like
We are open from 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Saturday. We’re closed on Sunday. Holiday hours may vary, so please call or check our website for specific information on those dates.
Motivated by
Yes, we offer an array of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. If you have other dietary requirements, please inform your server, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Acts like
Yes, we accept reservations. Please call us or book online through our website.
Sounds like
We are open from 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Saturday. We’re closed on Sunday. Holiday hours may vary, so please call or check our website for specific information on those dates.
Motivated by
Yes, we offer an array of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. If you have other dietary requirements, please inform your server, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
What are you trying to protect me from?
There is more on this in module 1: Understanding doubt. Here, lets look into 7 different types of critic to define what makes our critics unique and personal to us
Label and notice the critical voice. Experiment with these tools to see which helps you separate yourself from the critical thoughts and give them less power. Different seeds will work with different critics, so experiment with them to see what feels right for you
Physical
- Put their critical thoughts in a bin, jar etc
- Remove them from the scene
- Write a letter to the emotion
Visualise
- Create characters for your Inner Critics
- Imagine them receding into space
- Turn down the volume
- Check in with your Inner Mentor
Reflect
- Consider why and how they are trying to keep you safe
- Choose a core value and why it matters to drive you instead
- Separate the “I” from the Inner Critic
- Find the humour
This is not an extensive list, but these can support you in developing other ways that feel right for you
Got questions?
Let me know or bring them to the Overwhelm Club so that others can benefit too!