Archive for November, 2011

Talkin’ Back to Your Inner Critic!

You don’t feel like getting out of your comfy sweats – the ones with the stretched out waistband, baggy knees, and that are easily classified as ‘floods’ after years of washing.  You don’t want to change out of your oversized, super-soft, college sweatshirt with the faded coffee stains.  Sigh.

But it’s Saturday morning and there are errands to be run.

You’ve had your coffee.  You’re armed with your “list”.  Now you’re trying to get motivated to go out and tackle those errands.  There’s so much to do and yet, you don’t feel very motivated to do it.  You feel kinda worn out – and you haven’t even started.

You stand in your closet, coffee mug in hand, just staring hopelessly at your clothes, not really seeing them. What will look presentable enough to run errands in and still be comfortable?  Sigh.  It’s too much energy to figure it out.

Your inner critic speaks up

Oh, wait.  I hear something.  It was faint, but now it’s getting louder as you stand there, eyes glazed over, absentmindedly sipping lukewarm coffee:  “What’s wrong with you?! Just get going.”  “These errands have to be run.”  “You’re just being lazy. You’ve got stuff to do.”  “You’ve got to get motivated and get going.  Now!”

Yep, there she is.  Your inner critic.  She’s in top form.

It’s all too familiar

What else is your inner critic famous for saying when you’re feeling low-energy and worn out?

“If you don’t do it, who will?”

“You don’t do enough.” 

“You don’t deserve to stay home and relax.”

“If you don’t get this stuff done today, it won’t get done.”

There is more to you than your inner critic

You know that voice well.  She’ll never run out of retorts to your sighing and feeling unmotivated.

Her criticism is so familiar that you don’t even question her when you’re feeling low-energy and worn out.  It’s like being on auto-pilot.  She speaks up.  You listen.  Then you feel bad about yourself.

In fact, you’re so in tune with your inner critic that you may not realize Read the rest of this entry »