The voice we have in our heads is the one we’re going to hear for the rest of our lives. I’d like to tell you about my Sticks and Stones exercise, which pertains to negative and positive self-talk. We are biologically designed to be vigilant, on guard, and negative so that we could survive what used to be harsh conditions and the threat of being taken out by lions, or tigers, or bears. In this day and age, we aren’t being chased by animals. We have the internet and smartphones that will get you information at the click of the button. But, we do have hard deadlines, the stress of recessions and depressions, and pandemics.
So, how can we harness the power of the brain to lift us up, instead of bringing us down?
Like I said earlier, the voice we hear in our head will the one you’ll always have. And, stressed, overwhelmed, driven, high-achieving executives, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and physicians will likely have a voice that has a sharp tone.
Negative self-talk burns through your physical and mental energy, your will power, self-control, and motivation.
Positive self-talk is rejuvenating, light, and empowering. And, I’m not talking about a Pollyanna voice, or to stick your head in the sand or the clouds. I’m talking about the voice of your inner champion versus your inner critic.
Given all that is going on in our world, it is so easy for the inner critic to take hold. It can be as though it is only the inner critic that you can hear in your head at times. The inner critic may be saying, “You didn’t eat well. You didn’t exercise. You drank too much. You didn’t get your work done. You don’t know how to home school your child. You don’t what you’re doing at work.”
When we’re really stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed, we revert to our worn in habits and patterns. It’s what we know and we’re stuck in our comfort zones. But, to serve and show up for your business or clients or patients, your friends and families, and yourself as your highest self, you’ll need the voice of your inner champion to be the most prominent one in your head.
So, an important step in turning your inner critic into your inner champion is to recognize which one is driving the bus. We have all been in the position of coming out sideways when the inner critic is in the driver’s seat. We have all acted out or made emotional decisions that we would want to take back. Because I don’t think the inner critic is our true or highest self, it is important to externalize and separate ourselves from the inner critic. We can externalize ourselves by naming the inner critic. It could be Joann with a little j. It could be Debbie Downer, Negative Nancy, you get the point. So, when you recognize that it’s the inner critic yelling inside of your head, you can say, “Oh, that’s Debbie. Hey there, Nancy.” You can also say, “I got this Debbie,” or “Sticks and Stones, Nancy” and act from a logical, solution-focused, positive place, instead of stressed out, overwhelmed, or negative place.
You’ll truly conserve mental and emotional energy by taking the power away from your inner critic. Any time that you do this, you are slowly and surely empowering your inner champion. With a powerful inner champion, we can tend to all of the things on our to-do lists and still have energy and time left over for the important things.
Comment below with the name of your inner critic.