Posted by Sundi Hayes in The running monologue in our minds runs at a staggering rate of 500 words a minute!
Wow! I actually said it out loud I was so surprised. Think how long it took me to say it out loud compared to if I’d simply thought it!
I know I’m my own worst critic. I’ve also been around long enough to realize my self-think gets me where I am, not where I actually want to be. Isn’t it horrible to think we can do that to ourselves? Just think of what a great source of income the Inner Critic is for coaches of all types!
I’m going to try some new self talk. Call it my Half-Year Resolution. Ok, we aren’t to the half-way mark yet. How about the Self Improvement Goal for May? Yes, you’re right. I missed that by a few days, didn’t I? Alright, it doesn’t have to have a name because I’m not going to wait on one. The sooner I do this the better.
I’m going to start with the toughest one first…rejecting social ideals. Saying no is a big one for me.
There are times my accommodating scores are off the chart and I know this. For example, when I answer the phone during a time I’ve been deep into finishing a big project. I get distracted by the ringing phone and answer it with the intention of wrapping up the call quickly so I can get back to where I’m centered. The next thing I know I’ve said yes to just about anything the caller wanted and by the time I get off the phone I’m so distracted by what I’ve committed myself to I can’t get back to work anyway!
Here comes my Inner Critic beating me up about why I answered the phone, why I agreed to anything and, finally, why I can’t get back to work. Wouldn’t it have been easier to reject the initial social ideal that I need to answer the phone simply because it was ringing?
The second thing I’m going to work on is balance. Yeah, I know. That word is probably the most over used one around!
Look at it this way though…If I focus on stopping the negative comments I’ll always be concentrating on the negative comments because I’m trying to stop them. Isn’t a better way to achieve this actually by concentrating on positive comments and injecting them when my self talk expresses a negative one? That way I’m following up the negative with a positive.
With this train of thought about half my 500 words a minute will be positive. I’m half way to every word running through my head being positive. Even if I never make it the other half way I’ve surely reached a healthier place than everything being negative!
That’s it. Two small steps for me. What two small steps can you take to help shut down (or up) your Inner Critic?
Nibbling away -
Sundi
