15 Jan Are you a self-critic? Here are 7 ways to overcome this bad habit!
So many of us rob ourselves of happiness and contentment by constantly criticising ourselves.
So many of us working for more happiness are our own worst enemies.
But there is another way. And this other way can allow you to enjoy more happiness, peace, satisfaction and more…
via Inc.com by Amy Morin
Your private inner dialogue can either be a powerful stepping stone or a major obstacle to reaching your goals. If you constantly make negative predictions like, “I’m going to mess up,” or you call yourself names, your self-talk will rob you of mental strength.
Your thoughts affect how you feel and how you behave. The way you think has the power to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Thinking, “I’ll never get this job,” may cause you to feel discouraged as you walk into an interview. Consequently, you may slump your shoulders, stare at the floor, and make a poor first impression–and inadvertently sabotage your chances of success.
If you have a harsh inner critic, you’re not alone. Self-doubt, catastrophic predictions, and harsh words are common. But, you don’t have to be a victim of your own verbal abuse.
Although there are many exercises that we use in therapy to help people change the way they think, here are seven ways to tame your inner critic:
1. Pay attention to your thoughts.
You’re so used to hearing your own narration that it’s easy to become oblivious to the messages you’re giving yourself. Start paying close attention to your thoughts and you may discover that you call yourself names or talk yourself out of doing things that are hard.
It’s estimated that you have around 60,000 thoughts per day. That’s 60,000 chances to either build yourself up or tear yourself down. Learning to recognize your thought patterns is key to understanding how your thinking affects your life.
2. Change the channel.
While problem-solving is helpful, ruminating is destructive. When you keep replaying a mistake you made in your head over and over again or you can’t stop thinking about something bad that happened, you’ll drag yourself down.
The best way to change the channel is by getting active. Find an activity that will temporarily distract you from the negative tapes playing in your head.
Go for a walk, call a friend to talk about a different subject, or tackle a project you’ve been putting off. But refuse to listen to your brain beat you up…
…keep reading the full & original article HERE