Have you ever just been about to embark on something amazing in your life and the little voice in your head says “No, you can’t do that”? In my corporate working life there were many times when I agreed to do something which was way out of my comfort zone and that naughty little voice would kick in (sometimes in the middle of the night) and tell me that I was silly for thinking that I could do it.
Self-doubt is a natural part of life for many of us. The problem is when it appears repeatedly it can really stop us in our tracks. For some people they can become frozen with fear whenthe inner critic becomes too loud. I have witnessed others suffer from depression and anxiety. The great news is that mindfulness canreally help. It allows you to recognize that voice for what it really is—simply a thought, not a fact. Remember through practising Mindfulness we learn to be “the observer” of our thoughts and emotions which is extremely powerful.
“Don’t believe everything that you think“
I have been fortunate in my life to have had some great mentors and people to encourage me along the way. This has been a great help when my inner critic has been overly active.Through a consistent Mindfulness practise, I am now more aware that I have ever been when my inner critic is active and the impact that it can have on my mood and behaviour.
My last piece of advice is to be kind to yourself.It may be easier said than done but extending compassion towards yourself and your mistakes and your crazy thinking mind can be extremely helpful. By giving yourself the freedom to be imperfect, you open so many new opportunities to take risks, do what you love, and learn new things along the way.
Mind Body Energy offer private and group Mindfulness Sessions online and in person. “Nourishing Resilience” and Self Compassion are two extremely popular courses.