Comments on: How Do You Tame Your Inner Critic?

By: Tara Joyce

Tara Joyce — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:46:37 +0000

Touche. You're a wise man.

By: gulliver

gulliver — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:52:29 +0000

>I am not perfect, nor is my work. I need to accept that. Trouble is, I don’t know how.

That's life – there's stuff we're not supposed to understand. In three months time you'll be writing posts which describe how you're learning to let go. (http://www.elasticmind.ca/innerpreneur/index.ph...)

By: Tara Joyce

Tara Joyce — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:39:23 +0000

I am honoured. I liked your article. I thought your insights into why
people do not self-promote was very accurate. But far less intentional
than you suggest.

I look forward to your tweets.

Tara

By: thatcanadiangirl

thatcanadiangirl — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:51:24 +0000

You've inspired a post today, Tara :) Since I don't think Disqus handles pingbacks, I thought I'd leave you a note.

http://www.thatcanadiangirl.co.uk/blog/2009/01/...

By: Tara Joyce

Tara Joyce — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:10:00 +0000

I've named my inner critic Ramona, after one of my favourite childhood heroines. The author Judy Bloom created her. What I still need to learn is how to embrace her. She is still my enemy, tearing me down and making me feel ashamed. Another goal I have for 2009 is learning to accept, welcome and better understand the purpose of Ramona and her often misguided ideas. I think it is wonderful that you have found a way to welcome her into your heart.

Tara

By: Ananda Leeke

Ananda Leeke — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:09:13 +0000

Your interview and article were amazing. Thanks for the resources. I love the Cultural Creatives book. It has been my handbook for years. I feel you on the inner critic. My bodywork masseuse/creativity coaching client Ken encouraged me to embrace my inner critic by inviting her into my heart and asking her in my journaling exercises what she wanted and needed from me. I met her on paper and began to understand that she wants to be heard and treated as a valuable archetype like my other 7 archetype. Her name is Broomhilda. I listen to her and allow her to speak her mind with boundaries. Most of her comments are released from my spirit and transformed into positive energy with support from Spirit and my angels, ancestors, spirit guides, and master teachers. Sometimes Broomhilda does make a good point or two in the midst of her sharing. The loudness of her voice has quieted down now that I honor her in the morning by welcoming her and my other archetypes into my heart.

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:54:43 +0000

I love that G.I. Joe phrase "knowing is half the battle," but I guess it doesn't always resolve the problem at hand. Sometimes an outside and objective perspective from someone else can be self-validating.

Furthermore, it doesn't always have to be poisonous because Einstein attributes some of his success to self-criticism: “I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent; curiosity, obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my ideas.” -Einstein

It seems relevant to not let it poison yourself and your work, unless it's being constructive. Easier said than done, right? Thanks for the further insights, Tara. I look forward to talking more in the future.

By: Tara Joyce

Tara Joyce — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:28:57 +0000

Grace,

That is an excellent insight. As G.I. Joe used to say, knowing is half the battle. Simply being aware of your thoughts and how they affect you is so crucial on the road to self-improvement. My favourite saying for this is "thinking about thinking". Cultivating a mindset that allows you to not take your emotions a face value but rather to be able to dig into them and understand why they are occurring and how they can be managed and changed.

I do admit, at really low points, I find this more difficult. It is hard to rationalize your emotions when they are raging irrationally. It isn't impossible and I work on it constantly but sometimes I can't help but let my mind beat me down. Sometimes my resolve isn't strong enough to fight the anxiety. But every day I work on improving and for me that is the best I can ask of myself.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Grace.

Tara

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:08:35 +0000

Everyone is their own worst critic, however, I feel that KNOWING that is a big part of the battle. Often times when I'm unsure or criticize myself, I step back and realize it's not as bad as it seems or that I should wait to hear what the other person really thinks…then I can breath a little easier. Secondly, I always realize that criticism doesn't create a positive vibe and can only hurt me in the end. I have to talk myself through this, but realizing that I could be the catalyst for myself by staying positive I'm 'turned off' by the idea of criticizing myself.

By: Tara Joyce

Tara Joyce — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:48:24 +0000

Chris, wow, thank you, that is so helpful. I will be sure to check out each of the links. Funny enough, you are the second person to mention Molly Gordon to me in the last week. No doubt a sign that she has something of great value to offer me. Thank you for providing me with absolutely no excuse not to check her out!

You are so helpful,

Tara